Italian Coast Guard officials have managed to seize a Turkish-flagged cargo carrier transporting roughly twelve tons of hashish.
According to reports the drug bust was made possible due to a tip from the Turkish police.
The appointed authorities were able to intercept and raid the vessel, which was identified as Meryem, while underway in the Sicilian Strait, off the coast of Italy.
The Italian drug enforcement agency seized the contraband which is roughly worth EU 40 million (close to USD 44.3 million) and arrested the ten-man crew, consisting of Turkish nationals. According to initial reports the ship was escorted to Palermo.
The vessel is believed to have been headed out from the port of Morocco.
Officials are currently initiating a more thorough investigation regarding the case.
