A Greek prosecutor ordered on Wednesday the arrest of two Russian sailors over suspected cigarette smuggling, a Greek coast guard spokeswoman said.
On Tuesday, the Greek authorities detained a Togo-flagged cargo ship, which was reportedly carrying 7,900 boxes containing 3.9 million packs of cigarettes from the Egyptian port of Alexandria to the Bulgarian port of Varna. The 11-member Russian crew was detained on smuggling charges.
The spokeswoman said the crew had failed to provide customhouse seals proving the legal origin of the cargo.
"The port of Edipsos's coast guard has arrested the 42-year-old captain [of the ship] and 46-year-old chief mechanic under a warrant issued by the Prosecutor of the city of Chalkida," the spokeswoman said, adding the cigarette cargo was seized.
The arrested sailors are to be questioned on Thursday, she said, adding the other nine crew members remain on board the ship.
The Mitridat ship, reportedly owned by the Liberian company, Oceanic International Shipping C.O., was intercepted in the Aegean Sea, between Skiathos and Skopelos islands. It was then convoyed to the port of Edipsos on Euboea Island.
"We investigate the possibility that the Mitridat ship was earlier involved in similar transportations," the spokeswoman said.
The Russian sailors face prison terms if found guilty of smuggling.
ATHENS, January 6 (RIA Novosti)
