The São Tomé and Príncipe-flagged freighter GROT-YUG was seized by the Coast Guard off the southern coast of Crete and transferred to the port of Souda, where upon investigation the authorities discovered 2,319 master cases of illicit cigarettes. All six Ukrainian crew members have been arrested.

After boarding the cargo ship, the Coast Guard officials located the cigarettes, for which the freighter’s captain did not have the necessary documents. All six of the arrested suspects are expected to face the prosecutor later in the day.