Maltese arrested in Libya to be arraigned over alleged smuggling of arms

A Maltese man arrested in Libya is set to be arraigned in court over the alleged smuggling of weapons, MaltaToday has discovered.

Sea captain Carmelo Grech, who during the Libyan revolution ferried medical supplies and doctors across Libya, was arrested at the airport of Labraq together with another individual or individuals.

MaltaToday can confirm that Grech was the only Maltese national to be arrested.

Initial reports of Grech’s arrest suggested that he was detained, after having been caught up in a visa blunder. It however transpires that the true motive behind the arrest involves the smuggling of firearms.

Separate sources told MaltaToday that Grech was carrying an excessive amount of cash when the Libyan authorities arrested him. MaltaToday was not in a position to confirm this information.

Grech is expected to be accused in a court in Libya “in the coming days".

In a separate case, five individuals – one of whom holds a Maltese passport – were arrested in Tripoli over alleged smuggling of fuel.

The Libyan coastguard said the arrest was made two days ago; the Togo-registered ship Sovereign M was seized.

The group also included two Egyptians, an Algerian and a Syrian.