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Nine people were arrested on Jan 8, 2025, for their alleged involvement in a shipment of 1,100 kilos of cocaine found in a container in the port of Vigo. They have been brought before the city's investigating court number 4, which is in charge of coordinating the investigations. Among the detainees, of Albanian and Belgian nationality, wee those who allegedly intended to take control of the drugs. The detainees arrived at the City of Justice in Vigo around 10:00 a.m. in National Police vans, accompanied by a large security force that included the presence of agents in the court building. The operation that led to these arrests was carried out jointly by the National Police and the Customs Surveillance Service. The drugs, hidden in a container of fruit that had arrived from Ecuador, were found on board the 'Cape Citius'. After the inspection in the port of Vigo, the ship resumed its course towards Malaga. According to police hypotheses, the suspects were in Vigo to collect the shipment, which had been introduced into the container using the technique known as “blind hook.” This method consists of hiding the drug in the middle of legitimate cargo, such as fruit, without the knowledge of the legal persons responsible for the container or the ship's carrier. On the other hand, investigators are also trying to determine possible links between this shipment and other recent seizures of cocaine. In December, Ecuadorian authorities had intercepted more than 1,200 kilos of cocaine in the port of Guayaquil. The drug, hidden in a container of tuna cans, was destined for the port of Vigo. On that occasion, the agents found 23 black plastic packages containing 1,264 packets of narcotics. In addition, at the beginning of December, 500 kilos of cocaine were seized in another container in the port of Vigo, transported by the ‘Izmit Express’, which had departed from Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. In the previous weeks, the captain of the ship had discovered an additional 23 kilos of cocaine hidden in the holds. The connection with other international seizures is also under analysis. In October, a shipment of 13 tons of cocaine was intercepted in the port of Algeciras, hidden among bananas that came from Ecuador. Meanwhile, in a previous operation, 100 kilos of cocaine were located in an air container in Fuenlabrada, Madrid, linked to an international organization made up of Albanian, Colombian, Moroccan and European citizens. Report with photos: https://enfoques.gal/galicia/comparecen-ante-el-juez-los-detenidos-por-el-alijo-de-cocaina-en-vigo/

Azerbaijan has sent a note to Eritrea regarding three Azerbaijan flagged tugs and their crews, which were detained after entering the territorial waters of the State of Eritrea on Nov 7, 2024. Each ship had six Azerbaijani sailors, with a total of 18 crew members, on board. The 'CMS Pahlavan', 'CMS Igid' and 'CMS-3', operated by the Azerbaijani branch of the company Caspian Marine Services B.V., had no choice but to enter due to deteriorating weather conditions, en route from the Suez Canal to Abu Dhabi. Although prior contact was made with the port authorities of the State of Eritrea, it was not possible to provide information. After entering the 12-mile territorial waters of the State of Eritrea, the relevant authority of the State emphasized that the entry was unauthorized, and the vessels were detained. Azerbaijan sent a note to Eritrea, through the Azerbaijani embassies in Ethiopia and Russia, stating that the entry into Eritrean territorial waters did not contradict international legal norms. Relevant meetings were held at the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Eritrea’s embassies in Türkiye and Moscow. Efforts were ongoing to resolve the issue, secure the release of the vessels and crew, and provide necessary consular and legal assistance. The Agency was also in regular contact with the Azerbaijani branch of the Caspian Marine Services B.V. company, which owns the ship. The ships are supplied with food and other necessities on time, and relevant assistance is provided for communication between the crew and their families.

The 'Spirit f Tasmania' (IMO: 9936587), which has been delayed in Edinburgh as the port infrastructure in its home port of Devonport is not currently fit to house the ship, has extended its lease in Edinburgh for another 30 days, after the state-owned operator TT-Line had been unable to find a third party to lease the ferry. The lease extension was significantly cheaper than the initial berthing costs for the vessel, at an average weekly cost of $23,915, plus ancillary costs. The ferry had arrived at the Port of Leith in Edinburgh on Dec 4. Both the 'Spirit of Tasmania IV' and the sister ship 'Spirit of Tasmania V', which is still under construction, are too big for the existing infrastructure of Devonport. A delay in the port upgrade meant that it was unlikely that Devonport will be able to receive them until early 2027. The Spirit of Tasmania ferries connect Tasmania with Geelong, Victoria. TT-Line Company moved its Victorian port operations for Spirit of Tasmania from Station Pier, Port Melbourne, to Corio Quay, north of Geelong in 2020.

Azerbaijan has sent a note to Eritrea regarding three Azerbaijan flagged tugs and their crews, which were detained after entering the territorial waters of the State of Eritrea on Nov 7, 2024. Each ship had six Azerbaijani sailors, with a total of 18 crew members, on board. The 'CMS Pahlavan', 'CMS Igid' and 'CMS-3', operated by the Azerbaijani branch of the company Caspian Marine Services B.V., had no choice but to enter due to deteriorating weather conditions, en route from the Suez Canal to Abu Dhabi. Although prior contact was made with the port authorities of the State of Eritrea, it was not possible to provide information. After entering the 12-mile territorial waters of the State of Eritrea, the relevant authority of the State emphasized that the entry was unauthorized, and the vessels were detained. Azerbaijan sent a note to Eritrea, through the Azerbaijani embassies in Ethiopia and Russia, stating that the entry into Eritrean territorial waters did not contradict international legal norms. Relevant meetings were held at the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Eritrea’s embassies in Türkiye and Moscow. Efforts were ongoing to resolve the issue, secure the release of the vessels and crew, and provide necessary consular and legal assistance. The Agency was also in regular contact with the Azerbaijani branch of the Caspian Marine Services B.V. company, which owns the ship. The ships are supplied with food and other necessities on time, and relevant assistance is provided for communication between the crew and their families.

Azerbaijan has sent a note to Eritrea regarding three Azerbaijan flagged tugs and their crews, which were detained after entering the territorial waters of the State of Eritrea on Nov 7, 2024. Each ship had six Azerbaijani sailors, with a total of 18 crew members, on board. The 'CMS Pahlavan', 'CMS Igid' and 'CMS-3', operated by the Azerbaijani branch of the company Caspian Marine Services B.V., had no choice but to enter due to deteriorating weather conditions, en route from the Suez Canal to Abu Dhabi. Although prior contact was made with the port authorities of the State of Eritrea, it was not possible to provide information. After entering the 12-mile territorial waters of the State of Eritrea, the relevant authority of the State emphasized that the entry was unauthorized, and the vessels were detained. Azerbaijan sent a note to Eritrea, through the Azerbaijani embassies in Ethiopia and Russia, stating that the entry into Eritrean territorial waters did not contradict international legal norms. Relevant meetings were held at the Eritrean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Eritrea’s embassies in Türkiye and Moscow. Efforts were ongoing to resolve the issue, secure the release of the vessels and crew, and provide necessary consular and legal assistance. The Agency was also in regular contact with the Azerbaijani branch of the Caspian Marine Services B.V. company, which owns the ship. The ships are supplied with food and other necessities on time, and relevant assistance is provided for communication between the crew and their families.