Kenyan police recover firearms from seized Norwegian ship

Kenya's security agencies on Monday recovered firearms from a Norwegian ship that was seized last week for allegedly trafficking drugs and firearms.

The multi-agency team inspecting the vehicle carrier, Hoegh Transporter, which came from Mumbai, India, stumbled upon the assorted weapons stashed in tyres of fighting wagons that were on a ship.

"The weapons including long range guns were hidden in the tyres and covered with thick polythene papers. They have been handed to the government agents for further investigation," said a senior security officer.

The police officer, who did not want to be named, said the team also recovered a white powder suspected to be high-grade cocaine in the tyres.

Hoegh Autoliners, the Norwegian company which owns the vessel, said its crew, their local agent in Kenya and local African operations team, are cooperating fully with Kenyan authorities, according to a statement on its website.

The ship docked at the port last Thursday night, and is loaded with vehicles and some containers which the authorities suspected to have drugs and firearms.

Coastal regional police commander Francis Wanjohi said multi-agency team has completed inspecting the vehicles and parts of the ship. He said few remaining cars at lower deck of the ship will be cleared late Monday before the report is made public.

The regional police commander said government has intensified patrols along the coastal line. Endit