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🇩🇰 Denmark /Crime & Justice

Danish Police Spent Millions on Operation Targeting Iranian Cargo Ship

From Berlingske · () Danish

Translated from Danish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Official statement In the courts
  • Danish police spent 8.7 million kroner, excluding VAT, on an operation to inspect the Iranian-flagged cargo ship Nora and its containers.
  • Authorities examined more than 900 containers after the ship was detained in February and moved between ports in Aarhus and Kalundborg.
  • Seventeen containers holding aluminium and lead were seized over suspected sanctions violations, but the next legal steps remain unclear.

The Danish police operation targeting the Iranian cargo ship Nora cost at least 8.7 million kroner before VAT, according to bills disclosed by the National Unit for Special Crime, or NSK, to Ritzau.

The case began in February, when the Danish Maritime Authority detained the ship and anchored it in Ålbæk Bay. Nora had recently called at St. Petersburg in Russia. On March 5, authorities forced the vessel into the port of Aarhus. After initial examinations, they moved it to Kalundborg, where the operation continued for more than 45 days.

The ship and its 22 crew members were released in early May. More than 900 containers were on board, and a number of Danish authorities took part in examining the cargo. The operation left Nora short of 17 containers when it was allowed to sail on.

a larger police operation

· National Unit for Special CrimeThe NSK used this phrase to describe the scale of the investigation.

The seized containers held aluminium and lead. The NSK said in a May 4 press release that authorities suspected the ship was carrying cargo covered by international sanctions. The action began after a U.S. request for legal assistance, followed by a report from the Danish Business Authority concerning possible sanctions violations. A judge at the Lyngby District Court approved the seizure, which remains a provisional measure.

The disclosed bills include 3.2 million kroner paid to Kalundborg Port for use of its quay and a 5.5 million kroner claim from APM Terminals for unloading and loading the ship. The NSK has not said whether, or when, it will return to court to seek confiscation of the aluminium and lead.

The police unit recently told Ritzau by email that the containers had begun moving away from Kalundborg Port to “a new location,” but declined to identify it. At least 10 authorities, along with A.P. Moller-Maersk and the ports of Aarhus and Kalundborg, assisted the NSK. Danwatch has reported that Nora previously sailed on forged papers and that several crew members have Iranian backgrounds, while the second officer is from Russia.

a new location

· National Unit for Special CrimeThe NSK used this phrase when describing where the seized containers were being moved, without identifying the site.
About this summary

Originally published by Berlingske in Danish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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