Fireworks found on ship

An undisclosed amount of explosive material was confiscated from on board a cargo ship about to leave the island on Monday.

A container carrying the explosives was identified by Customs officers where the ship was berthed at Laboratory Wharf, in Marsa, the Armed Forces of Malta said yesterday. The Malta Maritime Authority said the next port of call of the MV Eurocargo Istanbul, where the explosive material was allegedly found, was Catania, in Sicily.

On being informed of the discovery, Customs informed the Ports Duty Officer who, in turn, requested the assistance of the AFM's Explosives Ordnance Disposal Unit to provide an initial assessment of the situation.

The AFM said the EOD identified the explosives as ready-for-use fireworks, hidden behind wooden container pallets.