Authorities conclude search on 'Haddad 1', find 4,881 carbines

Gazzetta team 3 Σεπτεμβρίου 2015 - 20:39

Greek authorities on Thursday announced that they had completed a search of all 14 containers on board the Bolivian-flagged freighter "Haddad 1".

The ship had been held at Iraklio port for inspection since Tuesday, when a coast guard patrol found undeclared weapons in one of the containers it was carrying.

Sources said authorities found a total of 4,881 carbines, of the type that could be used in urban warfare, as well as 491,881 9mm rounds of ammunition and quantities of contraband cigarettes.

The ship's seven-member crew will be led before a public prosecutor on Thursday evening. It had set sail from Iskenderum, Turkey on August 29 bound for Libya and was intercepted by a Greek coast guard patrol boat on Tuesday, 20 nautical miles off Ierapetra, Crete.

The shipping company that owns the ship is based in Alexandria, Egypt and does not seem to be involved with a Greek ship owner in any way, according to available evidence.