Seven Nigerian stowaways, arrested Sunday after a special forces operation on an oil tanker they are suspected of wanting to take control of, have been released on bail as part of this investigation but are now being held by border police, a British police announced Thursday, October 29.
"The seven arrested men, who are all Nigerian nationals, have been released on bail as part of the criminal investigation while investigators continue their investigations, but are now being held by the Border Force,"
the border police said. Hampshire Police said in a statement.
Read also: Incident on an oil tanker in England: the army arrests seven suspects
The elite forces of the Royal Navy intervened Sunday evening off the Isle of Wight (southern England) after a distress call from the captain of the Nave Andromeda, a 42,000 ton tanker, and arrested the seven stowaways.
According to the British press, sixteen members of the special forces equipped with assault rifles and night vision goggles rappelling from helicopters had taken control of the ship in nine minutes.
The 22 members of the crew came out
"safe and sound"
from this operation and did not require medical treatment, police said.
The Liberian-flagged boat had left Lagos in early October for Southampton.
The ship was six miles (approximately 10 kilometers) from the Isle of Wight when the distress call was made on Sunday morning.
Hampshire police said the illegals had been threatening to the crew.