Ship seized off Libyan coast with 13.6 tons of marijuana docked in Turkish port


The Bolivian-flagged cargo vessel Joudi seized three days ago off Libyan coast carrying 13 tons of illicit drugs was docked Thursday in a Turkish port, the Turkish army said Friday.The Turkish General Staff said on its website on Friday that the ship was docked in Aksaz Naval Base Command in southwestern Marmaris district.On Tuesday, Turkish security forces launched an anti-drug operation in international waters capturing 13.6 tons of marijuana in powder form, reportedly planned to be distributed to European countries, the police said.Turkish authorities received a notice on Jan. 2, and pursued the vessel from the south of Cyprus, 322 miles from Turkey, 35 miles off Libyan coast and 55 miles off Tobruk Port, in Libya. The operation took place on Jan. 6.Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Hakan Ustem told Anadolu Agency on Thursday that nine Syrian national crewmembers were detained.Sources from Mugla police directorate told Anadolu Agency on Friday that no new criminal evidence was found following checks on the vessel after it was pulled into the port by a tugboat.Sources said that four prosecutors took the testimony of detained Syrian crewmembers.Turkish coast guards carried out the anti-drug operation following the special permission taken by Turkish Foreign Ministry from the Bolivian government.The operation named "Albatros" was carried out with the support of narcotics and special operations teams from Turkish police.