Weapon arsenal discovered in Istanbul on ship heading to Libya

ISTANBUL - Hürriyet

A total of 990 pump rifles, 199 7.65 mm guns, 210 9 mm guns, 5,000 7.65 mm gun bullets, 260 long-barreled gun cartridges, 261,000 shotgun shells were seized by the custom officials. DHA photo

A weapon and ammunition arsenal has been discovered on a ship anchored in Istanbul and set to head to Libya, daily Hürriyet reported April 24. Custom protection officers organized an inspection of a Libyan-flagged fishing ship that was moored at the Tuzla dock, on Istanbul's Anatolian side, for repairs. After the ship was moved to the Harem docks for a detailed check, an arsenal of hundreds of weapons and ammunition was found.

A total of 990 pump rifles, 199 7.65 mm guns, 210 9 mm guns, 5,000 7.65 mm gun bullets, 260 long-barreled gun cartridges, 261,000 shotgun shells and two gas mask were found according to daily Hürriyet. All the weapons had been procured in Turkey and some reportedly had "Tughra" inscriptions, depicting the seal or signature of Ottoman sultans. In their statement to the Turkish authorities, the ship crew had said the containers were empty.

The Libyan captain and a Turkish citizen suspected of supplying the weapons were taken into custody by Istanbul prosecutors. An investigation to determine the suppliers in Turkey and their customers in the North African country has begun, sources told daily Hürriyet.