Weekly Maritime Security Report

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West Africa

Nigeria: Robbers board tanker vessel at Bonny anchorage

15 April

Two robbers armed with automatic weapons boarded a product tanker vessel at 2020 hrs local time at Bonny River Inner Anchorage. The assailants reportedly opened fire at the vessel’s accommodation and fled the boat after Nigerian naval guards aboard the vessel returned fire. One guard was reportedly wounded during the shootout. Crew on duty raised the alarm and notified the Nigerian navy and Bonny signal station. The wounded guard was transferred to a security boat and taken ashore for medical assistance. The rest of the crew was reported safe.

Nigeria: Assailants attack tanker vessel off Bonny Island

20 April

An unspecified number of assailants attacked a tanker vessel at 0010 hrs local time about 3 nm north-northeast off Bonny LGNT terminal. Further information regarding the attack was not immediately available.

PGI Analysis: Nigerian waters remain high risk for criminality. Crew and vessels are vulnerable to opportunist thieves at anchorage and more sophisticated attacks off Nigeria’s coastline, particularly against tanker vessels. Criminals are frequently armed and resort to violence. Attacks at Bonny anchorage are not frequently reported but tend to be extremely violent when they do occur.

Select Maritime News

Bulgaria: Officers seize 200 kg of cocaine from Black Sea

16 April

Border guards have discovered 200 kg of cocaine in Black Sea waters, local media reported. The authorities linked the discovery to a large seizure in Romania on 22 March when police seized 800 kg of cocaine from an abandoned boat in the Danube delta.

Congo, DRC: Some 150 missing after shipwreck on Lake Kivu

16 April

At least 150 people remain missing after a boat sank near Kalehe territory on Lake Kivu, the government reported. The cause of the incident was not immediately clear. At least 33 people have been rescued, while three people have been confirmed dead. Accidents occur regularly on the DRC’s lakes, as boats are often overfilled and in poor condition.

Costa Rica: Authorities seize 3 tonnes of cocaine in a week

19 April

Authorities said they had seized 3 tonnes of cocaine in separate raids this week. Police seized 456 kg of cocaine in the South Pacific off Costa Rica and 1,041 kg in Flamingo, Guanacaste, while 1,400 kg were found hidden in a container at the port of Moin, Limon. A total of 12 suspects were reportedly arrested during the operations. The seizures were made in cooperation with Colombian police. The drugs belonged to the Colombian Cartel del Golfo, authorities reported.

Iran: Tehran threatens to close Strait of Hormuz

23 April

Iran renewed its threats to close the strategic Strait of Hormuz if it is blocked from using the waterway to export oil. Ali Reza Tengseiri, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps naval force, made the threat after the US announced it would end sanctions waivers for countries importing oil from Iran. Oil exports from Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Kuwait pass through the waterway, which connects the Arabian/Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman.

Montenegro: Authorities seize 50 kg of cocaine on naval training ship in Tivat

19 April

Authorities seized 50 kg of cocaine on a naval training ship in the port of Tivat hours before a training exercise, Reuters reported. The police said it had received a tip-off and that it had launched an investigation in the matter.

Ukraine: Security forces seize 12 kg of cocaine in Odessa

22 April

The security services seized 12 kg of cocaine from a container vessel at Odessa port. The Europe-bound vessel had originated in an unspecified South American country. Two Moldovan nationals were arrested in connection with the seizure.

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