Vessel carrying €530,000 in cash ordered to return to port

A boarding party from the Armed Forces of Malta found a stash of €530,000 in cash, inside the captain's cabin on board the conveyor vessel Sea Storm.

On 27 June this year, officers from the Police Economic Crimes Unit were instructed to go to Marsa and carry out a search on board the vessel Sea Storm.

Inspector Rennie Stivala and his team arrived on site and were told the vessel was under AFM custody. The AFM had stopped and searched the vessel, when it was eight nautical miles from Malta, and ordered the captain to return to port.

Taking the witness stand in the compilation of evidence against Captain Darren Gouder, Inspector Stivala gave details of what transpired at Marsa wharf.

"When we boarded the vessel we found the people on board were kept in two separate groups. Three foreign sailors who were to be transferred to another ship were kept together while the crew were kept in another cabin. The captain was confined to his quarters under AFM security," the inspector said. The crew consisted of two males, one Indonesian and the other Ukrainian.

The police spoke to the captain and were informed by AFM personnel of a black bag which was found in the captain's cabin.

When the bag was opened by court order €530,000 in cash were discovered.

Captain Gouder held he was given the bag by his company's director and instructed to pass it to the captain of another vessel. Although aware the bag contained money, he did not know the amount.

34-year-old Gouder, who resides in Valletta is facing charges of carrying excess currency without informing the authorities. The charge carries with it a  fine of over €130,000, together with the seizure of the vessel Sea Storm and money found on board.

Magistrate Ian Farrugia presided.