Thursday, July 4, 2019 - 09:38

Sanctions-busting oil tanker arrested by Gibraltar

by JOE GARCIA

A sanctions-busting oil tanker has been arrested in British Gibraltar Territorial Waters by military and enforcement agencies from Gibraltar and the UK.

The vessel, the Panamanian-flagged Grace 1, was acting in breach of European Union sanctions against Syria, said Gibraltar official sources. It is alleged to have been loaded in Iran.

In a major surveillance operation, the oil tanker was shadowed until it entered British waters off Gibraltar before elite military forces from the Royal Marines took action, in support of Gibraltar Port and Law Enforcement agencies. 

"We have detained the vessel and its cargo," said Gibraltar's chief minister Fabian Picardo.

An official statement added: "In fact, we have reason to believe that the Grace 1 was carrying its shipment of crude oil to the Banyas refinery in Syria."

The refinery is the property of an entity that is subject to European Union sanctions against Syria.

The Gibraltar arrest action took place in the early hours of this morning. Yesterday the Gibraltar Government published Regulations and a Notice to enforce those sanctions against this vessel and its cargo.

"I also gave a Direction requiring the Captain of the Port, assisted by the Royal Gibraltar Police and Her Majesty’s Customs to take control of the Grace 1," said Picardo. "With my consent, our Port and Law Enforcement agencies sought the assistance of the Royal Marines in carrying out this operation.

"As the sanctions being enforced are established by the EU, I have written this morning to the Presidents of the European Commission and Council, setting out the details of the sanctions which we have enforced.

"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."

04-07-19 - PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR