Over 13 tons of marijuana were seized from a Bolivia-flagged general cargo vessel Joudi some 55 nautical miles off Tobruk, Libya, on January 5, Commander of Turkish Coast Guard Rear Admiral Hakan Üstem said at a press conference.
The seizure was conducted as part of the anti drug operation Albatros.
The vessel, crewed by 10 people, was sailing along the Egyptian and Libyan coast, reportedly on its way to Tartous, Syria.
After the illicit cargo was found, Joudi was directed to one of the nearest Turkish ports, either the southern port of Mersin or Marmaris in the southwest, while the suspects were detained in custody.
The authorities are conducting an investigation of the incident.
World Maritime News Staff