The US has blacklisted a Libyan national, two associates and a ship for allegedly smuggling fuel and drugs into and out of the war-torn north African country, further destabilising it.

The US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac) said Faysal al-Wadi smuggled fuel from and illicit drugs through Libya to Malta.

He is accused of using the 508-dwt cargo ship Maraya (built 1976) and the Hurd's Bank anchorage in international waters offshore Malta.