The crew of a ship hired by a European far-right movement aiming to disrupt migrant rescues in the Mediterranean have reportedly been deported from Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus for alleged people-smuggling after 21 Sri Lankans were found onboard.

The crew of the C-Star were taken off the vessel at the port of Famagusta, and appeared in court on Thursday, alongside the ship’s Swiss owner.

They were accused of preparing and circulating false documents, but were later released for lack of evidence.

Faika Pasa, a local human rights activist, said nine crew members, including the captain and a German described as the “second captain”, had been arrested. 

At least 20 Sri Lankan refugees were aboard the C-star as the vessel approached Famagusta, Pasa told the Guardian. The Sri Lankans disembarked told authorities they had been trainees aboard the ship and were allowed to continue on their journey, but then changed their story at the airport where Pasa and other activists met them. 

“Some said they had paid €10,000 to smuggling rings to get on the ship and be taken to Italy,” she said. “Five have since requested asylum. The other 15 have now flown back to Sri Lanka.”

Sources told the Guardian that by nightfall all crew members had been deported. The Swiss owner of the vessel is believed to have been taken to the island’s Greek-controlled south, where he was expected to undergo further questioning. The other eight were described as having left the island on the C-star bound for an unknown destination.

In a statement posted on Twitter on Wednesday, Defend Europe, the vigilante sea mission created by Generation Identity, a movement of young people from across Europe opposed to Islam and immigration, said 20 of those onboard were apprentice sailors undergoing training.

It alleged that as the “20 apprentice sailors” waited at the airport to return home, NGOs “offered them to stay in Europe and apply for asylum in exchange for promises and money”.

Fifteen refused to do so, the statement added, while five accepted the alleged bribes “and are now making false accusations against the owner of the ship”. It said the vessel had headed to Cyprus after it had been unable to dock in Egypt.

Authorities in Famagusta have refused to comment on the vessel’s seizure. A spokesman with the marine police department in the Republic of Cyprus told the Guardian that the ship’s crew had deactivated its antenna and automatic identification system.

“It was in Famagusta, but we don’t know if it is still there because we can’t locate it,” an officer said. “They have clearly turned off the system. Because it is in Turkish-occupied territory, we can’t do anything about it. We can’t go and find out more.” 

The 40-metre (131ft) vessel, hired by the movement after it raised more than €75,000 (£67,000) through crowdfunding, left Djibouti in early July, planning to dock in Catania, Sicily, before setting sail for international waters close to Libya.

Source: The Guardian

-Agencies