Italian authorities had been monitoring the 2,100-dwt GoldStar (built 1975) for three days following a tipoff that it was carrying theillegal cargo which they believe was loaded in Turkey, according to reports.
But just as they were ready to pounce, the crew of nine Syrianand Egyptians tried to destroy the evidence before jumping ship near Sicily.
There was little left of the cannabis resin once firefightersdoused the flames but what was found still measured two by four metres.
