An oil tanker loaded with 5,227 metric tons of illicit diesel intended for a Maltese firm was intercepted by Libyan authorities some 11 miles off the Abu Kamash district, according to sputniknews.

The portal said the fuel was on a Belize-flagged oil tanker belonging to a Greek company.

According to the portal, the crew, made up of a Russian captain, a company representative and seven Ukranians, are being investigated.

It was reported earlier that five Russians and several Ukrainian and Greek nationals were on board the detained tanker.

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