Global Business in Iran Database
In-depth metrics and analysis of Iran's international economic partnerships.
UFS-IRISL, Arms-Smuggling Incident
description
The German-owned, Antiguan-flagged, Cypriot-operated ship, Francop, was intercepted off the coast of Cyprus on 4 November 2009 by the Israeli Navy carrying tons of weapons bound for Lebanon. Weapons were found in containers clearly marked "IRISL", Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines. According to the Israeli Navy the nearly 500 tons of weapons were found including:
- 2,800 artillery rockets (122 and 107 mm)
- 9,000 mortar shells (60, 81, and 120 mm)
- 20,000 fragmentation grenades
- 600,000 7.62-mm rounds for infantry weapons
- 3,000 106-mm rounds (for recoilless rifles)
This is the third case of Iranian arms being intercepted on the high seas in just the last year. In October 2009, the US Navy intercepted another German owned ship, the Hansa India, carring 7 containers of small arms ammunition, also bound for Beirut. Iran has denied that the weapons were Iranian.
- Country: Cyprus
- Client: Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL)
- Contractor: United Feeder Services
Status
- Current Status:
- Discussion Date: Thu, 2009-11-05
- Contract Date:
- Completion Date:
Citation
1. "'Francop' second German ship caught with Hizbullah-bound weapons", JPost, 5 November 2009, available at http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1256799096521&pagename=JPArti....
2. "Documented proof of Iranian complicity in arms smuggling to terrorists", Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 10 November 2009, available at http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/The+Iranian+Threat/Support+of+terror/Proof_Ira....
