Kenya security agents find weapons, drugs on Norway-flagged ship

Politics and policy

 

Cargo at Mombasa port. Kenyan security agents have found an unspecified amount of weapons and drugs on a Norwegian-flagged ship. PHOTO | FILE 

By JOSEPH AKWIRI (Reuters)

In Summary

• In a statement, Hoegh Autoliners said its Chinese crew had been cooperating since Thursday with authorities who were inspecting cargo being offloaded from the ship at the Indian Ocean hub of Mombasa.
• In July, Kenyan police seized 341.7 kg of heroin hidden in the diesel tank of a ship, the biggest single seizure of drugs at Mombasa.
• "We cannot tell how many weapons have been recovered because the exercise is still ongoing and we don't want to jeopardise it by giving incomplete information," Francis Wanjohi, Coast regional police commander, told Reuters late on Tuesday.

Kenyan security agents have found an unspecified amount of weapons and drugs on a Norwegian-flagged ship they intercepted last week, a senior police officer said.

East Africa has become a key export route for Afghan heroin destined for Europe. Coastguards and navies from the region, short of funds and anti-trafficking expertise, have struggled to stem the flow of drugs through their waters.

Kenyan authorities boarded the Hoegh Transporter, owned and operated by Norway's Hoegh Autoliners, last Thursday saying it was suspected of carrying drugs and firearms.

"We cannot tell how many weapons have been recovered because the exercise is still ongoing and we don't want to jeopardise it by giving incomplete information," Francis Wanjohi, Coast regional police commander, told Reuters late on Tuesday.

"For the drugs they have to weigh to establish how much they are, and then tested to determine which exact type they are."

A Hoegh Autoliners spokeswoman declined to comment on the police report as the investigation was still ongoing.

COOPERATING

In a statement, Hoegh Autoliners said its Chinese crew had been cooperating since Thursday with authorities who were inspecting cargo being offloaded from the ship at the Indian Ocean hub of Mombasa.

"We look forward to the speedy completion of the search so that our vessel can resume her sailing schedule," it said.

The ship had sailed from Mumbai, India.

In July, Kenyan police seized 341.7 kg of heroin hidden in the diesel tank of a ship, the biggest single seizure of drugs at Mombasa.

Heroin is typically transported from Pakistan and Iran to East Africa, known for its poor border and maritime surveillance, and on to Europe.

Last November, an Australian Navy warship patrolling Indian Ocean waters seized heroin worth $158 million. Another Australian warship raided a dhow with 1,023 kg of heroin on board near Kenya in April 2014.

Mombasa handles imports of fuel and other goods and exports of tea and coffee from the entire East African region.