Navy shadows suspicious ship
Coast guard and navy vessels were shadowing until late yesterday a small Syrian-flagged freighter suspected of carrying illegal immigrants or drugs that refused to undergo an inspection off the Peloponnese, fleeing into international waters. The 56-meter Antradous I motorship was located on Wednesday night sailing with its navigation lights off just inside Greek waters off the southeastern Peloponnese, a few kilometers south of Leonidion. Merchant Marine Minister Giorgos Anomeritis said yesterday the ship was on a ministry list of suspected smuggling vessels, and was told to stop for an inspection. «The captain refused, and coast guard vessels fired warning shots,» he said. «But the vessel proceeded at full steam into international waters, where we cannot stop ships.» Late yesterday, the Antradous I, which had sailed from Alexandria, was in international waters south of Crete. Anomeritis said Greece has notified Interpol, and has sought the assistance of naval ships patrolling the Mediterranean.
