Coast Guard Western region apprehends a ship used to smuggle fuel off Taleel.

Tripoli, 27.08.2015(Lana) Coast Guard of Western region apprehended Wednesday a ship used to smuggle fuel off Taleel near Sabratha. Official spokesman of the Navy Col. Ayoub Qassem said based on reconnaissance data about the presence of a suspecicious ship acting in fuel smuggling north of Taleel region orders were issued to the coast guard of the western region to approach the identified area and apprehend the ship. In a statement to Lana he said that Taleel boat approached Wednesday the area and apprehended the ship. In a statement to Lana he said the boat apprehended the ship which was anchored off Taleel area and that it carries no flag which is in clear violation of international norms and law. He said the captain of the ship admitted that the ship is registered in Togo and operated by the Malta based Golden Group. Col Qassem revealed that the captain of the ship is Egyptian, first officer is Croatian and engineer a Syrian holding Maltese nationality besides two persons carrying Egyptian and Georgian nationalities. He said the 650 ton- ship was anchored without permission of Libyan authorities and awaiting a fuel shipment for smuggling. He also confirmed that the ship arrived last night in Tripoli Naval base and was delivered to Coast Guard at the base who in turn handed over those apprehended to smuggling and narcotics prosecution. =Lana=