Among those detained in this operation, which spanned Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, is Igor Grechushkin, owner of the cargo ship that transported ammonium nitrate which exploded at the Beirut port in 2020, killing at least 218 people and injuring more than 6,000.
Interpol confirmed Grechushkin’s detention at the airport in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria.
This operation followed a red alert issued via the Interpol network by Lebanon, where Grechushkin is accused of multiple crimes, including acts of terrorism. The extradition process is ongoing.
The international police agency, which today released the main results of the operation, noted progress compared to last year’s operation, which resulted in 66 arrests.
In a statement, it highlighted that two individuals, whose identities were not specified, were detained at the Spanish port of Algeciras. One was wanted for terrorism and the other for drug trafficking.
Overall, during Operation Neptune VII, 328 individuals were identified as targets of Interpol notices and alerts, 57 of whom were suspected of terrorism links.
A large number of stolen blank documents, believed to have fallen into the hands of terrorist groups operating in the Middle East, were also seized.
Additionally, 220 kilograms of cannabis, 20 kilograms of silver bars, 130,000 dollars in cash, and several luxury vehicles were seized.
Among the countries involved, apart from Spain, were Albania, Algeria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Iraq, Italy, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Malta, Montenegro, Morocco, Portugal, Slovenia, and Tunisia.
