Cache aboard Portuguese merchant ship released

Two undocumented men who stole into Turkey aboard the Portuguese-flagged merchant ship Westwind were released this Friday, a source at the Faro Criminal Investigation Court told Lusa.

“They left free, indicating their identity and place of residence,” the same source said.

Two men, aged 23 and 24, were arrested on Thursday off the Algarve coast on charges of security violations, aggravated endangerment and illegal stay.

The men boarded the ship on June 8 in the port of Izmir, Turkey, and since they were discovered by the crew, showed “uncooperation with the ship’s management by engaging in threatening behavior towards the crew.” This is stated in the statement of the Judicial Police (SP).

The action of these police forces, in coordination with the National Maritime Administration (AMN), took place “after a request for help from the captain of the ship, who, along with the rest of the crew, was under serious threat to life. and against the safety of the vessel.”

In the territorial waters of Portugal, the authorities carried out “a wide range of evidentiary actions on the ship”, which allowed “to accuse of committing crimes related to encroachment on the safety of water transport, illegal entry into a place closed from publicity, threat of aggravating circumstances and illegal stay on national territory” .

A Portuguese Navy ship and the Naval Police Tactical Action Group from AMN participated in the boarding operation on the merchant ship Westwind, together with the National Anti-Terrorism Unit of the SP.

These police forces also found that on the sea route between Turkey and Portuguese territorial waters, “the commander of the ship had successively requested support and assistance to proceed with the disembarkation of the two stowaways, steps which, despite their insistence, were not taken.” various countries”.