Turkey refused to allow the European Maritime Operation IRINI team to inspect the 'Matilde A' in accordance with Security Council Resolution No. 2292/2016 on the arms embargo on Libya, which was heading to Libya.on the night of Sep 8, 2024. The operation was launched on March 31, 2020 following the first Berlin Conference on Libya. It was mandated by the European Council to carry out as its core task the implementation of the UN arms embargo on Libya in resolution 2292 of 2016 and resolution 2526 of 2020, which are binding for all EU Member States. This was the 12th time that Turkey has prevented an IRINI team from boarding a merchant ship. Turkey blames IRINI of besieging the interim Government of National Unity (GNU) in Tripoli. The operation had shared dozens of special reports with the UN Panel of Experts on Libya. Most of these reports referred to violations or possible violations of the arms embargo and oil smuggling activities in the west and in the east of the country. The operation aims to counter illicit arms trafficking, supporting the implementation of the arms embargo on Libya based on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, to gather intelligence on oil smuggling, in particular its impact on the Libyan economy and its possible use to finance the arms market; to contribute to the disruption of the business model of migrant smuggling by gathering intelligence by air and sharing it with Frontex and relevant national authorities; to support the development of the search and rescue capacity of relevant Libyan institutions through training.
News
ZAKAMSK
On Sep 10, 2024, the USA announced that it was blocking nine vessels for transporting munitions from Iran to Russia. The US has officially accused Iran of transporting munitions to Russia, which were to be deployed in the coming weeks against Ukraine. The US has claimed that many vessels owned by the Russian ship operator MG-FLOT have been transporting munitions, particularly Close Range Ballistic Missiles (CRBMs), from Iran to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine. This concerned the 'Boris Kustodiev', the 'Port Olya 3', 'Port Olya 4' and the 'Kopozitor Rakhmaninov', which have been claimed to regularly transit the Caspian Sea transporting cargo between Russia and Iran. Two Russian shipping companies were also being sanctioned for owning vessels that have been involved in the transport of munitions. The Vafa Wholesale Ltd., along with its vessels 'VCafa' and 'Vafa 1' have been added to the sanctions list. The Vafa Wholesale Ltd. is the owner of a vessel that was used to transport UAV-related equipment from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea. Similarly, the shipping company Sea Service Limited Liability Company and its vessels have been blocked for owning a vessel, namely the 'Omskiy 103', which was used for the transport of munitions from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea. Other vessels owned by the Sea Service LTd. Liability company that have been blocked were the 'Omskiy 119' and the 'Zakams'.
EXPEDITION
A Filipino woman reported having been raped by her father on board the 'Expedition', which has been moored for months in the port of Fray Bentos, on Aug 25, 2024. On Sep 10, the communications department of the National Navy reported the case. The Fray Bentos Prefecture went to the ship to consult the captain and collect the victim's complaint. Both are Filipino nationals and members of the ship's crew. The woman was taken to the local hospital for evaluation and forensic tests ordered by the prosecutor will be performed. Meanwhile, the Scientific Police Headquarters of Río Negro carried out an inspection at the place where the events occurred.
OMSKIY-119
On Sep 10, 2024, the USA announced that it was blocking nine vessels for transporting munitions from Iran to Russia. The US has officially accused Iran of transporting munitions to Russia, which were to be deployed in the coming weeks against Ukraine. The US has claimed that many vessels owned by the Russian ship operator MG-FLOT have been transporting munitions, particularly Close Range Ballistic Missiles (CRBMs), from Iran to Russia for use in the war against Ukraine. This concerned the 'Boris Kustodiev', the 'Port Olya 3', 'Port Olya 4' and the 'Kopozitor Rakhmaninov', which have been claimed to regularly transit the Caspian Sea transporting cargo between Russia and Iran. Two Russian shipping companies were also being sanctioned for owning vessels that have been involved in the transport of munitions. The Vafa Wholesale Ltd., along with its vessels 'VCafa' and 'Vafa 1' have been added to the sanctions list. The Vafa Wholesale Ltd. is the owner of a vessel that was used to transport UAV-related equipment from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea. Similarly, the shipping company Sea Service Limited Liability Company and its vessels have been blocked for owning a vessel, namely the 'Omskiy 103', which was used for the transport of munitions from Iran to Russia via the Caspian Sea. Other vessels owned by the Sea Service LTd. Liability company that have been blocked were the 'Omskiy 119' and the 'Zakams'.
CG DILIGENCE
On Sep 9, the 'Diligence' offloaded more than 4,125 pounds of cocaine with an assessed street value of approximately $54 million in Port Everglades. Coast Guard crews, working alongside interagency and international partners, seized the illegal drugs in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea during three separate interdictions. Along with the illicit narcotics, 11 suspected smugglers were apprehended and will face prosecution in federal courts by the U.S. Department of Justice. The following assets and crews were involved in the interdictions: - Royal Navy ship HMS Trent (P 244); - U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific (PAC-TACLET); - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier (WPC 1115); - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP-AMO); - Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South). Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3900888/coast-guard-offloads-more-than-54-million-in-illegal-narcotics-interdicted-in-c/