Italian Forces Detain 15 Stowaways Aboard Turkish Vessel “Galata Seaways”

Upon discovering the presence of stowaways, the ship’s crew secured themselves in the engine room and alerted the authorities. The Italian special forces unit, the San Marco Brigade, swiftly responded by boarding the vessel via helicopter. Additional helicopters, navy, and coast guard vessels arrived at the scene. In a seven-hour military operation, the heavily armed team thoroughly searched the ship, eventually apprehending the stowaways who had barricaded themselves deep within the hold.

Among the 15 individuals captured are 13 males and 2 females. Media reports indicate that nine are from Iraq, four from Syria, and one from Iran. At the same time, the nationality of one individual remains unknown as they are currently hospitalized and yet to be questioned. Four individuals have been hospitalized, including a pregnant woman, an individual in poor health, another with a broken ankle, and one suffering from hypothermia.

According to Turkish officials, the stowaways allegedly attempted to access the locked engine room but were unsuccessful. Camera footage shows them later joining the other stowaways following the failed attempt. The vessel’s captain has mentioned witnessing two stowaways carrying knives.

Italian authorities are investigating to determine if there was any malicious intent behind the stowaways’ boarding of the vessel. While piracy charges have not been filed against the stowaways, Italian authorities have indicated that some individuals may face charges related to weapons possession, as two knives and a box cutter were recovered.