Operation Irini: Blockade on cargo of armored vehicles bound for Libya

Operation IRINI has seized a merchant ship off the coast of Libya, the European Union said, as it was suspected of violating an arms embargo imposed on the civil war-torn country.

Specifically, on October 11, the EUNAVFOR MED IRINI operation proceeded to inspect the merchant vessel MV MEERDIJK off the coast of Libya. The ship was found to be carrying vehicles modified for military use in Libya but which are strongly suspected of violating the UN arms embargo.

EU🇪🇺 Operation #EUNAVFORMED #IRINI seized illegal cargo in breach of the UN🇺🇳 #ArmsEmbargo on #Libya.
Dozens of vehicles modified for military use were discovered during an inspection of 🚢 MV MEERDIJK.
Read more: ➡️ https://t.co/hgymEFw2Td pic.twitter.com/7qs2YCh5cj

— Operation EUNAVFOR MED IRINI (@EUNAVFOR_MED) November 9, 2022

“At the request of Operation Irini and based on the relevant UN resolution the Netherlands under whose flag the ship was traveling gave its consent, without delay, to the inspection and on October 11 a team boarded the ship to ascertain the nature of these of vehicles” the announcement states.

It is recalled that this is the second time that the IRINI operation proceeds with a seizure, in implementation of the resolution 2292 (2016) of the UN Security Council (UNSCR) in less than three months.

The vehicles were seized and the ship was diverted to a European port for further inspection, the statement said. After the inspection by the UN team of experts, the vehicles were transported and stored on land.

The ship is currently tied up at the port of Almyros in Volos, according to the website Marinetraffic.com

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