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| Europe |
| Italian navy arrests 16 human traffickers off Libya |
| 2013-11-11 |
[Al Ahram] The Italian navy said Sunday it has enjuggedYez got nuttin' on me, coppers! Nuttin'! 16 human traffickers aboard a so-called "mother ship" in international waters off Libya. Submarine surveillance ahead of Saturday's raid was "of particular importance, notably for gathering proof" against the traffickers, it said in a statement. "Ciccolini, we shall gather evidence!" "Si, signor Commodore!" The fishing boat served as a staging area from which the traffickers dispatched their clients -- Syrian migrants seeking asylum or a better life -- aboard smaller, often rickety vessels to destinations in southern Europe. "Signor Commodore! I have evidence that's a mother ship!" "Really, Ciccolini? Have you been drinking?" The boat had been under surveillance, including by drones, hi-tech radars, night-vision equipment and the submarine, under stepped-up operations launched after two shipwrecks last month claimed some 500 lives. "All compartments, secure for action!" It was located some 500 kilometres (300 miles) southeast of Sicily, near Libya, the navy said. "Ciccolini, that smudge off the port bow? Is that Libya?" "I'm afraid so, signor Commodore!" Also Saturday, the navy rescued 176 Syrian migrants from one of the boats dispatched by the "mother ship", it said. "You're sure that's a ship, Ciccolini?" "Well, I have testimony that it is, signor Commodore!" The navy said the "mother ship" itself had sunk after it took on water while being towed towards an Italian port. "Forward room, make ready the forward tubes." "Ready, signor Commodore!" "Fire one... two... three... four!" "One away... two away... three away... four away!" "Ciccolini, you're sure that's a ship?" "Not anymore, signor Commodore!" |
| Posted by:Fred |