Libyan Coast Guard, Zawiya Squad, intercepted on Sunday a Russian vessel in the territorial waters off the country’s western coast.

The vessel, MERLE, was sailing to Zuwara Port to load scrap metal to Turkey, a booming illegal trade in Libya.

7 crewmembers from Russia were arrested on board the vessel without entry permission from Libyan authroites.

The vessel and the crewmembers were handed over to Tripoli-based Special Deterrence Force for investigation.