Greek Authorities Impound Libya-Bound Ship Carrying Explosives

Greek coast guard officers intercepted a cargo ship en route to Libya on January 9 after it was found to be carrying 29 containers of arms and explosives.The suspicious vessel was flagged by the Hellenic Coast Guard on January 6 and checked by authorities when it arrived at Heraklion port in Crete three days later, according to a statement from the Greek government agency. A large quantity of explosive agent ammonium nitrate, detonators, and 11 empty petroleum gas tanks were found on the ship.The European Union and United Nations have had embargoes on the supply of arms to Libya since 2011. Kathimerini reported that Coast Guard Rear Admiral Yiannis Argyriou called the vessel a “moving time bomb.”The eight crew members from the Tanzania-flagged Andromeda were detained and scheduled to appear before a prosecutor on Thursday. The ship’s bill of lading claimed it was bound for Djibouti and Oman after taking on cargo in Mersin and Iskenderun, Turkey. Credit: Hellenic Coast Guard via Storyful