MOSCOW, November 9 (RIA Novosti) – Greek coastal guards seized a ship full of firearms that were apparently intended for either Libya or Syria, reports said Friday.
The coastal guard service confirmed in a statement the seizure of an arms-carrying freighter from Ukraine off the Greek isle of Symi, but gave no details.
Maritime Bulletin website identified the ship as Lebanese cargo vessel Nour M, sailing under Sierra Leone Flag, which set out from the Ukrainian port of Nikolayev on Oct. 25.
Some 20,000 Kalashnikov automatic rifles, as well as ammo and explosives, were found in the cargo during a check, Greek news agency Amna.gr said.
The captain said the ship was heading for the Turkish port of Iskenderun near the Syrian border, the agency reported.
However, Tripoli in Libya and Tartus in Syria were both entered as destination in various marine traffic systems, Amna.gr said. Maritime Bulletin said only Tripoli was named as a destination.
The ship – previously used in drug smuggling – was escorted to a nearby port on the Greek isle of Rhodes for investigation.
