Customs and Finance Operations: The material stowed in the trailer of a truck was about to be loaded onto a ferry under false documentation.

As part of Operation "Clean Shot," a joint effort between the Customs and Monopolies Agency and the Guardia di Finanza, ADM an exceptionally large shipment containing millions of detonators and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition was seized at the port of Ancona. The operation prevented the illicit transport of highly dangerous materials that were about to be loaded onto a passenger ferry.

"The operation was initiated through a complex preventive analysis of trade flows based on the cross-referencing of documentary data, traffic routes, cargo volumes, and risk profiles. These checks revealed anomalies related to a shipment along the Italy-Greece route that was formally declared as 'miscellaneous goods,' but was deemed suspicious by investigators," according to a law enforcement statement

.Checks on the cargo 

The Marche 1 ADM Office and the Ancona Guardia di Finanza Group conducted thorough checks on the cargo thanks to their experience and in-depth knowledge of port operations. The checks revealed 314,000 rounds of ammunition and 10,584,000 detonators. This material was traceable to two Italian companies and, according to the presented documentation, was destined for Cyprus. Cyprus is considered a strategic crossroads between the Middle East and Europe

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The explosive material

The explosive material was about to be loaded onto a passenger ferry, which is a clear violation of current navigation safety regulations and the movement of weapons and explosives. According to the relevant legislation, cargoes of this type cannot be transported on passenger ships due to their quantity, nature, and degree of danger. Instead, they must follow dedicated land routes in compliance with strict procedures and specific prefectural authorizations

Detonators

Detonators are highly sensitive devices by their very nature and are particularly delicate. They can be accidentally triggered by impact, friction, a violent fall, or exposure to a heat source. As one might imagine, an explosion on board could have catastrophic consequences, seriously endangering the safety of the ship, crew, and passengers.

The investigation

The investigation also revealed that the carrier had made false declarations when issuing the shipping document for generic goods. According to investigators, this was extremely serious conduct that could have created an extremely dangerous situation for navigation and those on board.

After investigating, personnel from the Customs and Monopolies Agency and the Guardia di Finanza ADM confiscated the entire shipment of explosive materials, as well as the tractor-trailer used to transport them. The carrier was reported for the illegal possession and transportation of ammunition and explosive material, as well as for using a forged document.

About : The Port of Ancona

The Port of Ancona, located in the Marche region, is a major multifunctional Italian Adriatic hub and a crucial "Gateway to the East" for passengers and freight. The port facilitates significant Ro-Pax, container, and bulk traffic, linking Italy with Greece, Croatia, and Albania. The port is also a key shipbuilding center. The current Master Plan seeks to adapt the Port of Ancona to the flow of goods by expanding port areas, improving accessibility from land and sea, and optimizing and upgrading existing spaces.

To increase the level of service, quality, and efficiency in line with market standards, particularly due to the increase in ship size, a new configuration of maritime access to the port was outlined through the construction of a breakwater and pier. The new pier is nearly 800 meters long and consists of several layers of natural reefs and concrete conglomerate tetrapods, as well as a mantle lining. Additionally, a concrete mooring artifact was built on the head section.

Related : Italy : Three container seizure in Augusta coming from China

Source : Shipping Italy

#The Port of Ancona #ADM Office #Ancona Guardia di Finanza #Customs and Monopolies Agency #false documentation# Explosives Material#Italy-Greece route