navy storm baracaded Iraqi oil tanker in gulf
AP | 01.06.2002 14:10
British warship intercepts Iraqi tanker violating oil embargo
The Associated Press
6/1/02 8:28 AM
KUWAIT (AP) -- A British warship intercepted an Iraqi tanker smuggling oil in violation of U.N. sanctions, the British Embassy said Saturday.
The HMS Portland, operating in the northern Persian Gulf, "firstly tracked and subsequently boarded the MV Devo which was found to be carrying 3,100 tons of illegal diesel oil," the embassy said in a statement.
During the operation Tuesday night, a British Royal Marine detachment "encountered significant passive defenses," such as hatches and doors welded shut, and barbed wire on the upper deck. A search revealed incorrect documentation and the contraband oil, the embassy said.
The embassy did not say what happened to the ship or its crew, but usually such ships are impounded and the crew investigated and released.
The world body imposed economic sanctions on Iraqi after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. But since 1996, Baghdad has been allowed to sell oil under a U.N.-supervised program to buy food, medicine and other basic goods.
Oil smuggling, however, is believed to inject millions of unrestricted dollars every month into Iraqi coffers. The U.S. General Accounting Office, the watchdog arm of the U.S. Congress, said in a report Wednesday that Iraq has illegally earned at least $6.6 billion since 1997 -- $4.3 billion from oil smuggling and $2.3 billion in illegal surcharges on oil and commissions from commodities contracts.
The HMS Portland is serving in the Gulf as part of an international maritime intervention force aimed at seizing violators of the embargo.
Kuwait was liberated in February 1991 by a U.S.-led international coalition.
The Associated Press
6/1/02 8:28 AM
KUWAIT (AP) -- A British warship intercepted an Iraqi tanker smuggling oil in violation of U.N. sanctions, the British Embassy said Saturday.
The HMS Portland, operating in the northern Persian Gulf, "firstly tracked and subsequently boarded the MV Devo which was found to be carrying 3,100 tons of illegal diesel oil," the embassy said in a statement.
During the operation Tuesday night, a British Royal Marine detachment "encountered significant passive defenses," such as hatches and doors welded shut, and barbed wire on the upper deck. A search revealed incorrect documentation and the contraband oil, the embassy said.
The embassy did not say what happened to the ship or its crew, but usually such ships are impounded and the crew investigated and released.
The world body imposed economic sanctions on Iraqi after its 1990 invasion of Kuwait. But since 1996, Baghdad has been allowed to sell oil under a U.N.-supervised program to buy food, medicine and other basic goods.
Oil smuggling, however, is believed to inject millions of unrestricted dollars every month into Iraqi coffers. The U.S. General Accounting Office, the watchdog arm of the U.S. Congress, said in a report Wednesday that Iraq has illegally earned at least $6.6 billion since 1997 -- $4.3 billion from oil smuggling and $2.3 billion in illegal surcharges on oil and commissions from commodities contracts.
The HMS Portland is serving in the Gulf as part of an international maritime intervention force aimed at seizing violators of the embargo.
Kuwait was liberated in February 1991 by a U.S.-led international coalition.
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