Libya's Government of National Accord (GNA) has seized a United Arab Emirates (UAE) tanker accused of importing jet fuel into the east of the country illegally.
Rida Isa, a commander of forces affiliated to the GNA, was cited by local media as saying the 13,000-dwt Gulf Petroleum 4 (built 2009) had been detained.
Results of an inspection of the vessel will be published at a later date, he added.
The tanker was anchored in Misrata in the west of the country on Tuesday.
It had docked in Benghazi in the east earlier this month. Libya's National Oil Co (NOC) had accused it of bringing in jet fuel in breach of a United Nations embargo.
Reports of explosion on board
There were also reports that the ship had suffered an explosion in its engine room between the two ports on Sunday and had issued a distress signal, but this could not be verified.
In a direct criticism of the UAE, NOC had said the import was a clear violation of UN resolutions and Libyan laws under an arms embargo.
NOC has an internationally agreed exclusivity relating to fuel imports. The oil company could not be contacted on Tuesday.
The buyer of the jet fuel cargo is not known.
But NOC has hinted it believed it was destined to supply eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar, whose forces have been attacking the capital — Tripoli — since last April.
The vessel is listed as operated by Gulf Shipping Services of the UAE, which could not be contacted.
Eastern tanker export terminals were shut down in January by Haftar as part of the country's civil struggle. This has cost NOC more than $3bn in lost revenue.
