Seizure of ‘Guyana-registered vessel’: Interpol alerted as probe launched into arms, ammo find in Senegal
As law enforcement officials in the West African country of Senegal and in Guyana continue their investigation into the seizure of a vessel purportedly registered in Guyana that was transporting three containers of ammunition worth more than US$5million, Interpol has been notified.
Guyanese authorities have since denied that the vessel is locally-registered, as the international criminal Police organisation commonly known as Interpol has since been alerted of this matter.
The ammunition that was found on the boat
This motor vessel, named EOLIKA, has been detained in Dakar, Senegal, and the crew has been arrested after a search by Customs officials there unearthed a number of illegal arms and ammunition.
The Guyana Police Force launched an investigation on Thursday, during which officials of the Guyana Maritime Administration Department have confirmed that the vessel was not registered by any competent authority in Guyana.
The Police Force have said they are working with regional and international law enforcement agencies, and have alerted the INTERPOL General Secretariat with the view to informing all member States, and to confirm the veracity of the weapons’ seizure. According to the Police, this would assist in the questioning of one Suneil Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of an incorporated company that is involved in the registration of the motor vessel, and with whom MARAD had severed ties during last year.
The vessel that was detained
Meanwhile, in a statement on the issue, the Maritime Administration Department has said the vessel in question is not contained in the local ships’ registry, and it is believed that registration documents were issued by the International Maritime Safety Agency of Guyana (IMSAG), an entity with which the administration had severed all ties since 13th August 2021.
It added that it subsequently notified all regional and international bodies and organisations of the effective termination of all arrangements with IMSAG, and advised on the veracity of registration certificates issued to vessels by IMSAG.
As a result, several vessels have been detained in various ports for false registration documents.
