Greenlandic authorities have been asked to find ways to ensure that Greenlandic trawlers who harbour in Reykjavík will be subjected to closer inspection and more monitoring by Icelandic law enforcement and customs officials. Greenlandic authorities are looking into revoking the fishing rights of the trawler Polar Nanoq which has become the center of one of the most terrible crimes investigations in Iceland in recent years.
Murder and drug smuggling
Two crew members from the Greenlandic trawler Polar Nanoq are being held by the Metropolitan Police, suspected of having murdered a 20 year old local girl, Birna Brjánsdóttir, who went missing on the morning of Saturday January 14. One of the men is also believed to be connected to 20 kg of pressed hashish which was found on board the ship. Police estimates the street value of the drugs to be 228 million ISK (2 million USD/1.9 million EUR).
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that the Greenlandic minister of fisheries is considering revoking the fishing rights and quota of the trawler Polar Nanoq. Greenlandic trawlers should not be used to smuggle drugs, and that the Greenlandic home-rule parliament should consider whether trawlers which are found to engage in smuggling operations should not barred from fishing.
The local news site Vísir reports that Greenland Business Association has asked the Icelandic authorities to find ways to monitor Greenlandic trawlers which harbour in Iceland more closely. More unannounced visits and searches by Icelandic customs officials might discourage or stop the use of Greenlandic trawlers for smuggling.
Greenlanders hold memorial services
Hundreds of people participated in a memorial service for Birna in the capital of Greenland, Nuuk, on Sunday evening. The people gathered in front of the Icelandic consulate in Nuuk. A local man who participated in the memorial told Vísir that Greenlanders are shocked and deeply saddened by the disappearance and death of Birna, and that their thoughts and prayers are with her family and the Icelandic nation. He added that Greenlanders had been very worried since Birna disappeared and that there was shame connected to the discovery that the suspects were Greenlanders.
Candle light vigils were held for Birna in numerous towns and villages in Greenland. A Greenlandic woman from Nuuk, Aviâja E. Lynge, an activist for indigenous rights and the rights of indigenous women, organized the vigils through Facebook. She explained to a local news site that it was important that Greenlanders show the Icelandic nation solidarity.
Greenlandic authorities have been asked to find ways to ensure that Greenlandic trawlers who harbour in Reykjavík will be subjected to closer inspection and more monitoring by Icelandic law enforcement and customs officials. Greenlandic authorities are looking into revoking the fishing rights of the trawler Polar Nanoq which has become the center of one of the most terrible crimes investigations in Iceland in recent years.
Murder and drug smuggling
Two crew members from the Greenlandic trawler Polar Nanoq are being held by the Metropolitan Police, suspected of having murdered a 20 year old local girl, Birna Brjánsdóttir, who went missing on the morning of Saturday January 14. One of the men is also believed to be connected to 20 kg of pressed hashish which was found on board the ship. Police estimates the street value of the drugs to be 228 million ISK (2 million USD/1.9 million EUR).
The Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV reports that the Greenlandic minister of fisheries is considering revoking the fishing rights and quota of the trawler Polar Nanoq. Greenlandic trawlers should not be used to smuggle drugs, and that the Greenlandic home-rule parliament should consider whether trawlers which are found to engage in smuggling operations should not barred from fishing.
The local news site Vísir reports that Greenland Business Association has asked the Icelandic authorities to find ways to monitor Greenlandic trawlers which harbour in Iceland more closely. More unannounced visits and searches by Icelandic customs officials might discourage or stop the use of Greenlandic trawlers for smuggling.
Greenlanders hold memorial services
Hundreds of people participated in a memorial service for Birna in the capital of Greenland, Nuuk, on Sunday evening. The people gathered in front of the Icelandic consulate in Nuuk. A local man who participated in the memorial told Vísir that Greenlanders are shocked and deeply saddened by the disappearance and death of Birna, and that their thoughts and prayers are with her family and the Icelandic nation. He added that Greenlanders had been very worried since Birna disappeared and that there was shame connected to the discovery that the suspects were Greenlanders.
Candle light vigils were held for Birna in numerous towns and villages in Greenland. A Greenlandic woman from Nuuk, Aviâja E. Lynge, an activist for indigenous rights and the rights of indigenous women, organized the vigils through Facebook. She explained to a local news site that it was important that Greenlanders show the Icelandic nation solidarity.
