Azerbaijan, Baku /corr. Trend S.Aliyev / Kazakhstan's border guards detained eight smugglers in the territorial waters of the Caspian Sea. All of them are citizens of Azerbaijan, Kazinform reports with reference to the Press Service of Kazakh Border Service. The name of the detained vessel is reported as 'TBF- 58'
The Deputy Head of the Azerbaijan State Shipping Administration, Namig Agamaliyev, said that such a vessel is not registered with the State Vessel Register. "Perhaps this vessel has been acquired and used illegally," he said. According to Agamaliyev, the flag was obtained illegally. "If this vessel was released by the Kazakh side, the owner and its team and will be criminally charged once they arrive in Azerbaijan," Agamaliyev said.
Formerly Agamaliyev stated during his interview with Trend that it needs to devise legislative acts in co-operation with the Ministry of Emergency Situations and State Border Service to take decisive measures to prevent illegal action by the owners of the fishing vessels. In addition, it is necessary to control the vessels moving out of the territorial waters of Azerbaijan.
On 13 August, crew on the border vessel 'Sardar' discovered and detained a vessel 'TBF- 58' sailing under the Azerbaijan flag. Resistance was made during detention. Inspection of the detained vessel revealed more than three tons of sturgeon and the hunting tool 'Collada'. The vessel was immediately taken to the Kazakh port of Bautino.
Investigations are presently being held, Kazinform reports.