Ship Carrying Libyan Currency Impounded By British

After being unable to dock in Tripoli, a cargo ship carrying around $160 million of Libyan currency was impounded in British water and escorted to the port of Harwich in eastern England due to security concerns.



A number of containers have been unloaded from the vessel by the UK Border Agency, and the currency is subject to UN sanction.



The UK has already frozen about 2 billion pounds worth of Libyan assets, initially only freezing money accessed by Gaddafi and his immediate family. The assets halt has now been extended to 26 individuals within Gaddafi’s inner circle, denying access to bank notes and accounts which is hoped to aid in taking down his regime.



Financial minister George Osborne commented that these actions ensure Gaddafi is held accountable for the turmoil occurring in Libya. It also limits the means in which he is able to persecute his people.



Osborne says Gaddafi had been closely monitoring the whereabouts of this boat. British authorities were trailing the vessel for over a week, as well as blocking a different shipment worth 900 million in bank notes which was travelling to Libya earlier in the week.



The currency seizes and bank freezes from the UK combined with US freezing efforts has the financial net closing around Gaddafi, Osborne told BBC.



The name and flag of the vessel under investigation is undisclosed at this moment.