EUNAVFOR MED assets boarded a boat intent in suspicious activities
On Saturday morning, among a coordinated action between EUNAVFOR MED operation SOPHIA naval and air assets 
, the German auxiliary ship WERRA boarded a boat intent in suspicious activity in the high seas off the coast of Libya and embarked 146 migrants rescued by ITS Borsini, involved in the Italian Operation “Mare Sicuro”.
Besides the German auxiliary ship WERRA, under the coordination of operation Sophia Force Commander and his staff on board the Flagship, the Italian light aircraft carrier Garibaldi , the Luxembourgish Maritime Patrol Aircraft SW3 Merlin III , two Italian helicopters type AB212 [213 KB] and SH90 , a Finnish boarding party and the British survey ship ENTERPRISE took part in the operation.
The professionalism and the effectiveness of the crew allowed to conduct the operation with no collateral damage.
Earlier in the morning, the Luxembourgish Maritime Patrol Aircraft SW3 Merlin III detected a rubber dinghy with migrants on board that was followed by a suspect skiff and immediately reported the information to the Force headquarters’ staff on board the mission flagship. Both the suspicious skiff and the rubber dinghy with migrants were headed north. The Commander of the Task Force on board ITS Garibaldi ordered to the German ship WERRA to proceed southwards to intercept the suspicious skiff, whilst the SW3 Merlin III was continuing to achieve all significant video and photographic evidences to be delivered to the Italian authorities. ITS Garibaldi launched her two helicopters, while the British ship ENTERPRISE was ordered to interdict the way to the Libyan territorial waters.
The German Ship WERRA was then ordered to launch her two RHIBs with the Finnish boarding party towards the suspect boat sailing in International Waters and conduct the boarding operation which resulted in the stop of 3 suspects and the seizing of the boat. On the other hand, the Italian Ship BORSINI, involved in the Italian Operation “Mare Sicuro” rescued the 146 migrants on board the rubber dinghy and then transferred them on board the WERRA.
Later, on Sunday afternoon, FGS WERRA reached Catania Harbour disembarking the migrants and delivering the three suspects and the seized boat to the Italian Authority.
Thus far, following EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia ’s activities, more than 70 suspected smugglers and traffickers have been prosecuted by the Italian authorities and 189 boats have been prevented from being re-used by smugglers. Nonetheless, more than 19.000 lives were saved at sea during 115 rescue events coordinated by the competent Italian Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre while additional 33.324 migrants have been rescued by other actors in the area with the contribution of EUNAVFOR MED assets.
Last 20 June 2016 EUNAVFOR MED operation Sophia was extended until 27 July 2017. On the occasion, the Council of the European Union also reinforced its mandate by adding two supporting tasks: training of the Libyan coastguards and navy and contributing to the implementation of the UN arms embargo on the high seas off the coast of Libya.