A tanker believed to be smuggling 85,000 litres of diesel to Malta was reportedly intercepted by Libyan coast guard officials yesterday. 

According to the Libya Observer, Libyan authorities have detained the tanker's Syrian captain and two Egyptian nationals to be interrogated. 

The report said that coast guard officials first intercepted the Togo-flagged tanker just north of Abu Kammash district and subsequently accompanied it to Tripoli's Abu Sitta naval base. 

Last March, Libyan foreign minister Said Ali Laswad said that fuel smuggling was on the rise and hurting the country's economy. 

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