ROSETTA, a Tanzania-flagged small freighter transporting contraband cigarettes was intercepted by a border patrol Frontex helicopter off Ierapetra, Crete on Saturday.
Early reports suggested the vessel’s seven-member crew was seen transferring a portion of the counterfeit merchandise onto a fishing boat off the bay of Makri Yalos where two trucks were waiting to load up some 2000 cartons of cigarettes some of which they were thrown overboard when the vessel was challenged.
The fishing boat’s crew as arrested, while more suspects were being sought, authorities said.
The vessel was escorted to Sitia so that authorities could continue their investigation.
