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Russian Embassy in Venezuela is in contact with the detained Russians

The Russian Embassy to Venezuela is in permanent contact with the local authorities and Russians from the Carib Vision tanker that was detained in the Dominican Republic’s port

MOSCOW, February 13 (Itar-Tass) — The Russian Embassy to Venezuela is in permanent contact with the local authorities and Russians from the Carib Vision tanker that was detained in the Dominican Republic’s port, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Monday.

“On February 5 the Dominican Republic’s authorities in the port of La Romana conducted a drug inspection of the Carib Vision vessel belonging to an American ship owner the crew of which includes 17 Russian sailors,” the ministry informed. “No drugs were found on board on the first day and the following day when the inspection was continued.” “According to the vessel’s captain, no force was used against the crew,” the Foreign Ministry added.

“After that the Russian sailors were questioned by a local judge as witnesses,” the ministry said. “None of the Russians were arrested. There are no claims to the crew.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry said that “according to the explanations of the judicial authorities, the vessel was detained because an inflatable life raft from the Carib Vision with 122 kg of drugs hidden inside was found on the Dominican Republic’s villa of the vessel owner - American citizen Eduardo Larios. He was supposedly preparing the drugs for dispatch on the vessel. The investigation is underway.”

On February 11 the Carib Vision tanker arrived from La Romana to Santo Domingo port’s outer anchorage, the ministry stressed. “The Russian Embassy to Venezuela - our ambassador in the country is concurrently accredited in the Dominican Republic - continues to maintain a permanent contact with the crew and local authorities, making sure that the Russian sailors could be able to stay on the vessel where they have the needed living conditions, including food reserves, until the issue of their return home is settled.”

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