Azzurra finally departs Tripoli port

The shipping agents of the MV Azzurra, a ferry that has been kept under arrest for 24 days, have confirmed that the vessel had finally left the port of Tripoli after it was prevented from shipping out over smuggling allegations.

Contacts between the Maltese and Libyan governments were held over the past three weeks, with foreign minister Tonio Borg flying for talks with the NTC's deputy prime minister Moustafa Abu Shagam, over an "agreement" to have the Azzurra leave.

The Azzurra was held by Libyan authorities over reports of alleged smuggling of illegal and counterfeit goods by the country's most major entrepreneur, Husni Bey.

The impounding of the Azzurra, which transports an estimated €3 million in goods every week from Malta to Tripoli, is largely believed to have taken place upon reports by entrepreneur Husni Bey, who alleged that the ship could be carrying counterfeit or smuggled goods.

Bey claims the goods transported on the Azzurra would have reached their expiry date, and include alcoholic beverages [Bey imports non-alcoholic Becks beer to Libya].

Husni Bey told MaltaToday it was his "duty as a citizen" to ask Libyan authorities to monitor the trade on the Azzurra ferry. "We reject any form of criminality in our, or your hands, including the smuggling of illicit products and subsidised Libyan diesel and fuel oils."

Attempts to pacify Libya's most prominent of entrepreneurs were even made by John Dalli, the European Commissioner, who has held strong interests in Libya.