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Jihadists taking cruise ships to Syria, Iraq war zones
Would-be Jihadists eager to fight in Syria and Iraq are cruising to conflict zones in the hope of avoiding heightened scrutiny at airports.
Security officials said Jihadists are taking cruise ships rather than risk tighter security at airports.
Interpol officials say lax security is allowing foreign jihadists to disembark undetected at ports such as Izmit in neighboring Turkey.
Turkish security forces have deported hundreds of suspected fighters caught at airports and bus stations in recent months.
"Because they know the airports are monitored more closely now, there’s a use of cruise ships to travel to those areas," said Interpol counter-terrorism director Pierre St. Hilaire.
St. Hilaire has urged authorities to beef up security at cruise and ferry ports in the eastern Mediterranean.
"As we’ve gathered data, we’ve realized that there are more and more reports that people are using cruise ships in order to get to launch pads, closer to the conflict zones, of Syria and Iraq," added outgoing Interpol chief Ronald Noble.
Interpol announced plans to expand the I-Checkit passport screening program.
The I-Checkit program lets airlines, banks and hotels check passport data against Interpol’s database of stolen and lost travel documents.
It has been deployed at low cost carrier Air Asia and has so far caught 18 travelers in possession of stolen or compromised travel documents since June.
The UN estimates 15,000 foreign jihadists from more than 80 countries have joined up with Islamic State fighters and other extremist groups.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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