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Italian coastguard: 30 tonnes of cannabis found on burning ship near Malta Sea

VIDEO: 30 tonnes of cannabis found on burning ship near Malta Sea

TORONTO – Italian authorities confirmed that a burning Tanzanian-registered cargo ship, located roughly 48 km north of Malta, was transporting 30 tonnes of cannabis.

The Italian Guardia di Finanza said they received reports last week that the vessel was suspected of carrying illegal drugs, according to the weekly Maltese newspaper Malta Today. After Italian police gained permission to board and inspect the vessel on September 6, authorities say the nine-person crew allegedly  set the ship on fire and then jumped into the sea.

The Armed Forces of Malta (AFM) said the fire on the ‘Gold Star’ was extinguished early Saturday morning and may have been “purposely set on fire due to the drugs on board.

The nine people on board of the burning ship were rescued and arrested by police.

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