The Prosecutor’s Office of Iskenderun in Turkey has detained a captain of the ship MSC CAPUCINE R under the flag of Liberia and three of his assistants, who are citizens of Ukraine, in connection with drug smuggling charges, the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in Turkey are monitoring the case, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oleh Nikolenko has said.
“On July 10, Turkish law enforcement officers detained the ship MSC CAPUCINE R under the flag of Liberia in the port of Iskenderun. The crew consists of 24 Ukrainians and one foreigner. The next day, the Prosecutor’s Office of Iskenderun detained the captain of the ship and three of his assistants. All are citizens of Ukraine. They were charged with drug smuggling,” Nikolenko told Interfax-Ukraine on July 15.
He said that the Ukrainian Embassy in Turkey provides consular assistance to the detainees.
“Our citizens are provided with a lawyer and an interpreter, the consuls keep in touch with their families. The Ukrainian diplomatic department has asked the Turkish side to get access to the investigation materials and visit Ukrainian sailors. The rest of the crew are now on board. They are participating in the investigation as witnesses,” the spokesperson said.
Nikolenko said that the Department of Consular Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Embassy of Ukraine in Turkey are monitoring the case.
