Spanish Police Seize 10 Tons of Cocaine in Salt Cargo
Spanish police have made their largest-ever cocaine seizure on the high seas, intercepting a vessel carrying almost 10 metric tons of the drug concealed in a shipment of salt en route from Brazil to Europe, police said on Monday.The operation led to the arrest of 13 people on board. The vessel, which ended up running out of fuel, had to be towed to port by coastguards in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands, police said in a statement.Officers recovered 294 bales of the drug…
US Senator Ron Wyden Questions Shipping Companies Over Fuel Smuggling
U.S. Senator Ron Wyden has contacted seven maritime shipping companies as part of an inquiry into cartel-linked fuel smuggling between the United States and Mexico, asking the firms to explain their vetting procedures for ensuring their tankers aren't used to transport illicit hydrocarbons, according to copies of the letters seen by Reuters.The letters from Wyden, who is the most senior Democratic member of the Senate Finance Committee, were dated Friday. They come as stolen crude and bootleg fuel have become the second-largest revenue source for Mexican cartels after drugs…
Iraq Frees Oil Tanker After Court Order
A Liberian-flagged oil tanker that had been detained by Iraq's navy has been released and is en route to the United Arab Emirates, two sources familiar with the matter said on Tuesday.The vessel, which had been identified by authorities and shipping sources as the Liliana tanker, was carrying 93,000 metric tons of fuel oil when it was intercepted last week, 26 nautical miles from Iraq's coast near Basra's oil terminal.The ship was released after a court order, according to one of the sources and a court order, seen by Reuters, which stated it had committed no breaches.Smuggling is common in Gu
Iraq Navy Detains Oil Tanker in Smuggling Crackdown
Iraq's navy has detained a Liberian-flagged oil tanker in its territorial waters as part of a crackdown on fuel smuggling at sea, sources with the navy and oil and transport ministries said on Friday.Smuggling is common in Gulf waters, where heavily subsidised fuel from some countries is sold on the black market to buyers across the region, though it has been relatively rare until recently for Iraqi authorities to seize ships.The vessel - identified by both the authorities and shipping sources as the Liliana tanker - was carrying 93…
