The crew of a ship hired by a European far-right movement aiming to disrupt migrant rescues in the Mediterranean has been arrested in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus for alleged people-smuggling after 21 south Asians were found onboard. Police in Famagusta said the crew and ship’s Swiss owner had appeared in court on Thursday, accused of preparing and circulating false documents. “It has been proved that the documents were forged.”At least 20 Sri Lankan refugees were aboard the C-star as the vessel approached Famagusta, Pasa told the Guardian. A spokesman with the marine police department in the Republic of Cyprus told the Guardian that the ship’s crew had deactivated its antenna and automatic identification system. C-Star was reportedly held in Egypt by the Suez Canal Authority on 20 July, before arriving in Famagusta the next day.

Source: The Guardian July 27, 2017 09:47 UTC