Coast Guard thwarts bid to smuggle fugitives

Manama : The Coast Guard yesterday thwarted an attempt to smuggle wanted individuals to Iran, in the middle of the sea.

Interior Ministry confirmed that eight fugitives, wanted in terrorism related cases, were arrested on board a boat to the north of the island.

“The Coast Guard vessels spotted a boat off the coast of northern Bahrain. The boat was chased and then intercepted when those on board refused to stop,” the Ministry explained in a statement.

It also announced the identities of the individuals.

 “The arrestees were Hassan Ali Mansoor, a resident in Bilad Al Qadeem, sentenced to 10 years in jail; Hussain Mohammed Hussain, resident of Bani Jamra, sentenced to 15 years in jail; Ali Mahdi Hassan, resident of Bani Jamra, sentenced to 10 years in jail; Mustafa Abdulaziz Fatail, resident of Bani Jamra, wanted; Sayed Alaa Maitham, resident of Bilad Al Qadeem, sentenced to 10 years in jail; Hussain Ali Hassan Mansoor, resident of Bani Jamra, sentenced to 10 years in jail; Mohammed Ali Jaffar, resident of Bani Jamra, sentenced to 10 years in jail;  and Ali Mohammed Saleh, resident of Bani Jamra, sentenced to 10 years in jail,” it stated.

“The boat’s captain, Hussain Abdullah Al Safar, a resident of Bilad Al Qadeem and his assistant Mahmoor Hameed Al Mutawa, a resident of Juffair, were also arrested. The arrestees’ ID cards, money, mobile phones, a GPS and a large quantity of petrol were confiscated. Legal proceedings were taken,” Interior Ministry announced.

The Ministry added that investigation had revealed that the masterminds behind the operation were Sadiq Maki Jassim, who is sentenced to 10 years in Bahrain and is currently a fugitive in Iran; and Sadiq Al Haiki, sentenced to life imprisonment, also a fugitive in Iran.