Oil smuggling

Turkish media: Oil-tanker seized in Libyan smuggling hub

A Turkish-flagged oil tanker has been seized by armed men in the Libyan city of Zuwarah, according to reports in Turkish media on Thursday.

The Haci Telli had sailed from the Turkish port of Tuzla to Malta before arriving in Zuwarah on 24 February, reported the Deniz News Agency.

It said that the operator of the tanker is the Istanbul-based Transpacific Shipping, adding that the vessel had been scheduled to travel onwards from Zuwarah to Lavaleta in Malta.

Members of the ships crew have been held hostage since 24 February, according to reports in Turkish media, due to disagreements over oil payments.