A huge stockpile of illegal weapons has been confiscated in the Indian Ocean from a boat believed to be travelling to Somalia.
The boat was first spotted by a French Navy helicopter on a routine surveillance mission around 20 March.
The crew alerted the FS Provence frigate and the boat was eventually boarded by French marines.
Hundreds of AK-47 assault rifles and anti-tank artillery were among the weapons stowed on board.
The boat showed no signs of where it was from, but it is believed the weapons were bound for Islamist militants in Somalia.
They were seized under a United Nations arms embargo.
The FS Provence is part of the Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) – a multinational force operating in the Indian Ocean and the waters around Africa and the Middle East.
“France has been supporting Combined Maritime Forces operations since their inception. This seizure is another French contribution to the stabilisation of the region,” said a CMF spokesperson.
[Source:- Skynews]
