Tanzania: Locally Registered Cocaine Boat Seized

Local anti-drug and shipping regulators are investigating where MV Hamal which was seized by Royal Navy with a drug bust worth almost 500m pounds sterling is registered in the country.

Head of Tanzania's anti- narcotics squad, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police, Godfrey Nzowa, said he is not aware of the seizure and that he is following up the matter.

"I will be able to give details in the next few days after consulting my colleagues," SACP Nzowa said. Zanzibar Maritime Authority Director General, Abdi Omar Maalim acknowledged hearing news of the Tanzanian registered boat's arrest by authorities in Britain but promised to give details later if the ship was registered by ZMA.

"I cannot respond authoritatively because I am currently travelling in Dar es Salaam but will be able to check our records and give an answer when I am back in Zanzibar tomorrow," Mr Maalim said.

In 2013, ZMA severed ties with Dubai based agent, Philtex Corporation for registering foreign ships which subsequently many of them had been involved in scandals including drugs shipping.

News agencies reported that Britain's biggest ever drugs bust has seen two tonnes of cocaine worth almost £500 million seized by the Royal Navy after a raid on a ship in the North Sea.

The Tanzanian registered tug boat, MV Hamal, manned by a Turkish gang, was intercepted by the Navy and Border Force officials about 100 miles east of the Aberdeenshire coast last week.

Nine Turkish nationals have since been remanded in custody on Monday in connection with alleged drug trafficking offences. It is thought that if mixed with other agents to make four tonnes of 50 per cent pure cocaine, sold at £120 a gram, the total value of the drugs seized could be worth about £480 million.

The high-purity drugs bust is five times more valuable than Britain's previous biggest seizure, also made in Scotland. The cocaine is believed to have been sourced in South America and loaded onto the boat in the Canary Islands.

The operation was prompted by the National Crime Agency (NCA), acting on a tip-off from French customs.

Having been escorted back to Aberdeen harbour, a full search of the vessel was carried out, leading to what the NCA described as a 'potentially significant seizure' of cocaine.

The crew were then detained for questioning by investigators from the NCA's Border Policing Command. Mustafa Ceviz, 54, Ibrahim Dag,47, Mumin Sahin, 45, Mahammet Seckin, 26, Umit Colakel, 38, Kayacan Dalgakiran, 63, Emin Ozmen, 50, all from Istanbul, appeared in private at Aberdeen Sheriff Court on Monday.

Abdulkadir Cirik, 31, from Mersin, and Mustafa Guven, 47, from Yozgat, also appeared from custody at the petition hearing. They all faced the same charge of possession of a controlled drug under the Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990.

The act allows the United Kingdom to join with other countries in implementing the Vienna Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

The men made no plea and no declaration and were remanded in custody. They are expected to appear in court again next week.

With Agencies