Boka Star

The Boka Star was a Yugoslav cargo ship involved in an arms-smuggling controversy in 2002. The ship was carrying arms smuggled from Serbia and Montenegro to Iraq, breaking an arms embargo. It was seized by Croatian authorities, acting on a tip from U.S. intelligence.[1]

Cargo

The ship's cargo included 14 containers of chemical pellets, which were actually fuel for M-87 Orkan rockets. The cargo also included fuel for Scud missiles, and other weapons.[2] In total, there were 208 tonnes of explosives and propellants on board.

Responsibility

At the time, Boka Star was registered in Tonga, and was owned by a Montenegrin, Marko Balić.[3]

Passing through Tivat - a military port - indicated that the arms deals were linked to the Yugoslav government and army, rather than purely private deals.[4] The arms were supplied by a Bosnian Serb manufacturer and by Yugoimport.[5] The Yugoslav government eventually admitted being involved in arms sales to Iraq, despite the embargo.[6] When asked about the arms deals, president Vojislav Kostunica distanced himself.[7]

Balić was eventually brought to court, and sentenced to six years in prison.[8]

Eleven years after being seized, Boka Star was finally auctioned off.[9]

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ Connections (Partnership for Peace. Consortium of Defense Academies and Security Studies Institutes) 6: 81. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ "Američko-hrvatski lov na jugoslavenske krijumčare oružja". Nacional. 30 October 2002. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. ↑ "SEVERAL TYPES OF EXPLOSIVES FOUND ON "BOKA STAR" SHIP.". Europe Intelligence Wire. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  4. ↑ "Yugoslav Ship Allegedly Carrying Rocket Fuel to Iraq Intercepted". 1 November 2002. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "Croatis says it is not arms trafficking". 31 October 2002. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  6. ↑ "Arrest warrant for Boka Star owner". Maritime News (JOC). Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  7. ↑ "Yugoslav Ship Allegedly Carrying Rocket Fuel to Iraq Intercepted". 1 November 2002. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  8. ↑ "Za krijumčarenje 208 tona baruta na brodu Boka Star šest godina zatvora". novilist.hr. 28 December 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  9. ↑ "Splitska plovidba kupila brod Boka star kojim se naoružavao Saddam Hussein". 25 September 2011. Retrieved 24 June 2013.