ZAGREB/RIJEKA, Oct 30 (Hina) - The commander and first mate of the "Boka Star" ship, on which more that 208 tonnes of explosive were found, were on Wednesday charged and taken before Rijeka County Court. Police are still searching for
two other suspects, Yugoslav citizens.
ZAGREB/RIJEKA, Oct 30 (Hina) - The commander and first mate of the
"Boka Star" ship, on which more that 208 tonnes of explosive were
found, were on Wednesday charged and taken before Rijeka County
Court. Police are still searching for two other suspects, Yugoslav
citizens. #L#
The ship's commander, Josip Nikolic, and First Mate Damir
Balabusic, but Yugoslav citizens, were taken to the court's
investigating centre.
Interior Ministry spokeswoman Zinka Bardic said that police had
filed criminal charges with the Office for Combating Corruption and
Organised Crime (USKOK) against four Yugoslavs, as part of an
investigation into the Boka Star cargo.
The four are suspected of illegally obtaining, transporting,
selling, producing or exchanging a large amount of weapons,
ammunition and explosive substances, as well as avoiding customs
control.
Two of the suspects have also been charged with forging documents.
During the investigation so far, the police have established that
all customs declarations about the type, amount and mass of goods in
boxes on the ship did not match the actual state, nor the time of
loading of the cargo, accompanying customs documentation, and the
technical data on the purpose of the ship.
A total of 208,337 kilograms of explosive substances in 1,804 metal
barrels and 1,357 wooden crates were found aboard the ship.
The examination of the substances found that the containers
contained two types of gun powder intended for the military
industry, and mostly used for artillery and rocket projectiles,
Bardic said.
The interior ministry said that police were continuing the
investigation in coordination of USKOK and in cooperation with all
competent courts.
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