Previous discoveries of Iranian attempts to smuggle arms

Previous discoveries of

By JPOST.COM STAFF
  • December 2001 - The Karin A vessel, loaded with weapons in Iran and bound for the Gaza Strip, sailed in the direction of Egypt with the intention of unloading its cargo there. Small fishing boats were meant to pick up the cargo and deliver it to the Gaza Strip. The ship, loaded with rockets, anti-tank missiles and light arms, was seized on January 3rd, 2002 by Israeli Naval Commandos.
  • December 2003 - January 2004 - The Iranian Revolutionary Guard directed an aerial convoy to transfer weapons and supplies to Hizbullah via Syria. The aerial convoys were disguised as humanitarian aid intended for those injured in an earthquake in Bam, a city in southern Iran. The Iranians took advantage of the open airspace by trying to smuggle weapons to Hizbullah while humanitarian aid flights were landing in Iran from all over the world.
  • May 2007 - An Iranian train carrying arms (mortar shells, light arms, rocket launchers and ammunition) was uncovered in Turkey. The arms were meant for Hizbullah. The Iranians attempted to conceal and disguise the arms in order to avoid suspicion by the Turkish authorities.
  • January 2009 - An arms shipment sent by Iran was intercepted and seized in Cyprus after it was found on the Cypriot vessel Monchegorsk which had been leased by the Iranian Irisl shipping company. The Cargo was found to include tank, artillery and mortar shells as well as material for producing rockets.
  • October 2009 - The Hansa India, which sailed from Iran flying a German flag, was due to unload a cargo of eight containers in Egypt. Following warnings from the German authorities, the vessel was not unloaded and continued on to Malta, where it was seized and found to be carrying bullets and industrial material intended for weapons production. The cargo was seemingly bound for Syria.