Bahrain’s interior ministry said it has foiled an attempt to smuggle eight fugitives convicted over terrorism cases to Iran, Gulf News reported on Sunday.
Bahraini coast guard vessels spotted a boat off the coast of northern Bahrain and pursued it. Those on board were interdicted when they refused to stop, Bahrain’s interior ministry said in a statement late on Saturday.
Investigations revealed that the planners of the operation were Sadiq Makki Jasem, sentenced to 10 years in Bahrain and currently a fugitive in Iran, and Sadiq Al Hayki, sentenced to life in prison and currently a fugitive in Iran as well, the statement added.
Nine of the people arrested had been sentenced to jail terms ranging between 10 and 15 years while one was wanted by the police.
The boat captain and his assistant were also arrested in the operation.
The ID cards, money, mobile phones, personal belongings of those who were arrested, as well as a GPS and a large quantity of petrol were confiscated, Gulf News said.
The interior ministry said that legal proceedings had been initiated.
