11 Pakistani ship crew members freed in Mozambique

The Mozambican authorities have released 11 Pakistani crew members, who were detained in the central province of Zambezia, Xinhua news agency reported.

The crew of the ship Al-Raymanz, released on Sunday, were retained in the provincial port of Quelimane for illegal docking after running out of fuel.

The group spent 21 days at the port even after having paid US$7,000 fine to the provincial maritime services, said the maritime administrator in Zambezia, Daniel Sitoi.

The authorities had suspected that the ship was carrying illegal cargo or transporting illegal immigrants during its journey to South Africa.

However, by Tuesday it was concluded that the vessel was not transporting illegal goods or immigrants.

"The eleven crew members have left as nothing was suspected to have occurred clandestinely, such as illicit transport of cargo," said Sitoi.

According to him, the crew's release was ordered by Mozambican Defense Minister Jacinto Nyusi.