On 20 September, Spanish media report that Customs at Algerciras port in Spain unloaded up to 10 vessels that were being transported by the ship Lila Mumbai, which was detained in the waters of Ceuta at the end of August due to suspicions that it was carrying material of possible military use destined for Benghazi. The vessels are being examined to see whether they violate the UN arms embargo on Libya. All of the ship’s cargo has been unloaded and the crew has remined on board since it was initially detained. AIS data show the ship departed al-Fujayrah, UAE, on 18 July and apparently travelled around the cape of Africa rather than passing through the Suez Canal. It was headed for Benghazi. It was reportedly this lengthy route which initially raised suspicion. The owner of the vessel is a Dubai-based company called Lila Global. It is suspected that the boats being transported are intended for use as naval patrol boats.
