Royal Marines Detain Super Tanker Carrying Crude Oil to Syria
Gibraltar says it has detained a super tanker taking crude oil to Syria on the belief it was breaching EU sanctions.
Law enforcement agencies and Royal Marines have boarded the tanker, the island’s government has said.
Gibraltar’s chief minister Fabian Picardo said: “We have reason to believe that the Grace 1 was carrying its shipment of crude oil to the Banyas Refinery in Syria.
“That refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria.
He added: “I want to thank the brave men and women of the Royal Marines, the Royal Gibraltar Police, Her Majesty’s Customs Gibraltar and the Gibraltar Port Authority, for their work in securing the detention of this vessel and its cargo.
“Be assured that Gibraltar remains safe, secure and committed to the international, rules-based, legal order.”
A British government spokesman said: “We welcome this firm action by the Gibraltarian authorities, acting to enforce the EU Syria Sanctions regime.”
