That is according to a statement posted on the website of Italy's Ministry of Defense, Ukrinform reports.

The ministry said that the tanker Toa Payoh, which is under EU sanctions and was flying the Cameroonian flag, was intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea, west of the Italian island of Pantelleria. It had departed from Benin and was heading to Istanbul.

"This operation once again provides significant evidence of Italy's contribution to security in the Mediterranean and to the efforts of the European Union," Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto said.

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Initially, the tanker captain failed to provide the requested information about the vessel. An Italian military boarding team was then transported by helicopter from the ITS Thaon di Revel, the flagship of the EU's IRINI mission, and carried out all the necessary checks.

The operation, conducted with the support of a Greek naval vessel and a Polish maritime patrol aircraft, lasted approximately two hours and was completed safely and without incident.

The operation was carried out in international waters under a European mandate and in full compliance with Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which authorizes a warship, under the conditions set out in the convention, to verify the nationality of a merchant vessel and the flag under which it is entitled to sail.

The information and documentation collected during the inspection are currently being examined.

Photo credit: Italy's Ministry of Defense