French navy seizes 20 tons of cannabis aboard the Luna-S
The French navy intercepted the Tanzania-flagged Luna-S between Italy and Algeria and announced on 12 September 2013 a seizure of about 20 tons of cannabis, its biggest Mediterranean haul. The Syrian crew set much of the cargo on fire; about 10 tons were saved, the ship was towed to Toulon and eight crew members were detained.
🇫🇷 Mediterranean waters south of Sardinia; vessel towed to Toulon · France
The French navy intercepted the Tanzania-flagged cargo ship Luna-S in international waters between Italy and Algeria, and announced on 12 September 2013 that it had seized about 20 tons of cannabis.[1][2]A senior French customs official called it the biggest seizure by the French state in the Mediterranean, and the haul was valued at up to 50 million euros.[2][3]
As the patrol ship approached south of Sardinia, the eight Syrian crew members set the cannabis on fire in an act officials described as prepared sabotage.[2][3]It took several hours to bring the blaze under control, and the navy managed to save about 10 of the 20 tons.[3]The Luna-S had left Morocco days earlier and appeared headed for Egypt, while Tanzania, as flag state, authorised France to stop the ship and try the suspects.[1][2]The vessel was towed to Toulon and its eight crew taken into custody, facing up to 10 years in prison in France.[1][3]
Case data
Every number and detail the sources state, with the sources that state it.
SeaNewsseanews.com.trFrench navy saves 10 tonnes of cannabis as crew fails to burn evidence
Open questions the AI reported
The interception and fire happened days before the 12 September announcement, so 12 September is the announcement date rather than a confirmed boarding date.
About 20 tons were aboard but the crew burned much of it, so this report records the roughly 10 tons saved and the exact recovered weight was not precisely published.
One account values the haul at 50 million euros and another at US$66 million, so this report uses the French customs figure of 50 million euros.
The Gold Star seizure of about 30 tons days earlier, also in the western Mediterranean, was a separate event covered in its own report.
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