Warrant issued over suspected people trafficking ship

A second warrant was issued today for Irish customs officials to board a Mongolian-registered ship suspected of being involved in people trafficking.

A second warrant was issued today for customs officials to board a Mongolian-registered ship suspected of being involved in people trafficking.

The 40-metre cargo vessel The Unique was searched by gardaí two weeks ago when it anchored in Dublin Bay.

The crew is believed to be owed wages and has been living in difficult conditions on board for over two months.

Immigration and drugs squad officers have been monitoring the suspect ship, said to have already been ordered to quit French territorial waters.

The Unique was en route to Germany and a number of international agencies are understood to be involved in the operation.

Tony Ayton, spokesman for the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) said he had been trying to negotiate with the ship’s Greek management company for over a week.

But the ITF was issued with a warrant from the Admiralty Marshal’s Court in Dublin today as discussions collapsed.

“The crew of four Pakistanis, including the captain, and three Russians are owed £12,000 (€17,120) and we are concerned for their welfare,” said Mr Ayton.

“They had practically no food and six of them have asked me to repatriate them back to their home countries.

“Aside from the outstanding wages bill, there is also a £4,200 (€6,000) legal fees bill and it will cost around £3,500 (€5,000) to send them home. No settlements have been approved.”

The ITF must now wait 28 days for the management company to lodge an appeal.

They will then sell the ship to cover the bill.

Unconfirmed reports indicate there are still at least 10 illegal immigrants on board.