By Goth Mohamed Goth
Berbera-Somaliland Coastal Guards units have placed under arrest and confiscated cargo ship carrying an assortment of military hardware and it’s currently docked in the port of Berbera.
Somaliland Minister of Interior Hon Mohamed Ali Warancade speaking to reporters today in Berbera said, “The coastal guards officer on a routine inspection discovered the military hardware on board the cargo ship which had earlier in the day docked at the port to unload cargo belonging to local traders.
“The cargo ship crew had not informed local authorities of the nature of their cargo neither did they produce proper documentation ascertaining the destination of the deadly cargo this prompted us to place the vessel and cargo under arrest”, he stated.
The Interior Minister added, “The consignment of military hardware on board didn’t appear in the ship’s cargo manifest this raised suspicion on our part hence the decision to hold the ship so as to investigate the originsand to make sure the ownership and destination of the cargo on board.
The Captain and ship crews have made contradicting statements regarding the origins of the military hardware, although some say the cargo was uploaded in Port Sudan, Sudan and was destined for Dubai, UAE.
The Interior Minister elaborating on the nature of the cargo on board the confiscated ship said, “The military hardware on board the cargo ship included armored personnel carriers (APC), hundred artillery pieces, and armored military vehicles, VIP bullet proof vehicles, heavy duty vehicles carrying concealed cargo, amphibious attack vessels just to name a few.
