MOSCOW, October 8 (RAPSI) – A Nigerian court on Tuesday has aquitted seven Russian sailors form the Myre Seadiver crew of arms smuggling charges, the Russian consulate in Nigeria reports.
Nigerian authorities detained the Myre Seadiver ship with the Russian crew in the port of Lagos on October 19 last year after finding weapons, including 14 Kalashnikov AK-47 assault rifles and some 8,000 rounds of ammunition, on board.
Moran Security said the arsenal was designed to ensure protection against pirates, who often attack ships along the Nigerian coast.
The Myre Seadiver is an auxiliary vessel used to support maritime oil extraction and transport operations. The owner earlier said the vessel had been authorized to make a port call in Lagos three weeks before its arrival and had all the necessary documents declaring the presence of weapons on board.
In mid-June, eight of the 15 arrested Russian sailors were acquitted by a Nigerian court and returned to Russia. All 15 sailors belonged to the crew of the MV Myre Seadiver vessel owned by Moscow-based security firm Moran Security Group.