Ship With Ukrainian Crew Detained In Turkey On Charges Of Drug Smuggling

Turkish law enforcement officials have detained a ship with a Ukrainian crew on suspicions of drug smuggling. The officials also arrested the captain of the ship and three of his aides.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko stated that Turkish law enforcement officials detained the Liberian-flagged vessel MSC CAPUCINE R from Iskenderun on July 10.

The ship had a total of 25 crew, 24 Ukrainian nationals and one foreigner on board. ‘The day after that, the Iskenderun prosecutor’s office imprisoned the captain of the ship and three of the aides. All arrested persons were Ukrainian citizens, and drug smuggling charges were levied on them,” Nikolenko informed.

Representation Image – Photograph by Larriel Eleccion

Spokesperson Nikolenko assured that Ukraine’s Embassy in Turkey would provide efficient consular assistance to all detainees. The detainees would get both a lawyer and an interpreter for their assistance. The counsels are also in contact with the families of the detainees. Additionally, the Ukrainian embassy also requested the Turkish side to access the investigation materials and allow the Ukrainian soldiers to visit the port city.

Nikolenko further stated that other crew members present on board the ship would investigate as active witnesses. In addition, both the Consular Service Department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry and Ukraine’s Embassy in Turkey is keeping a close watch on the case.

Reference: pravda.com.ua

Source: Maritime Shipping News