Libya Herald | 17.09.2017

A Panamanian-registered cargo vessel is being held by the Libyan Coastguard on suspicion of smuggling construction materials out of the country.

The Coastguard said that the Albanian-owned ENVI 1 was intercepted off Zawia on Friday. Eight crew, five Albanians and three Montenegrans had been detained on board the vessel.  It is understood to have just left Zuwara.

According to Vesselfinder.com the 33-year old 83-metre vessel is owned by Delmore Ventures Ltd based in the Albanian capital Tirane.  Its destination was shown as Malta. It has not been possible to contact the owners.

Albania’s ambassador in Egypt, Edouard Sulo told the Albanian news agency today: “the ship is anchored at a port near Tripoli and the condition of sailors and the ship is safe”.

He added:“The authorities are proceeding with great speed. We are closely following this situation and the Albanian Foreign Ministry has also intervened”

Though criminal gangs generally concentrate on smuggling heavily-subsidised Libyan fuel by land and sea, there have also been several reports of stolen building materials leaving the country.