Cap. 31 Art. 121ECo-operationinthe suppression of relevantoffencesat sea.

(1) Where the Attorney General receives, or is informed about, a request made by or on behalf of a judicial, prosecuting, law enforcement, administrative or other competent authority of any

State or place other than or outside Malta (hereinafter in this article referred to as the "requesting authority") seeking authorisation for the competent authorities of that State or place to take appropriate measures in regard to a relevant vessel reasonably suspected to be engaged in the commission of a relevant offence the Attorney General may, with the concurrence of the Prime Minister, authorise the taking of the said measures by the aforesaid competent authorities subject to such conditions as may have been agreed by Malta with that State or as may be agreed between the requesting authority and the Attorney General with the concurrence of the Prime Minister.

(2) Where authorisation has been given by the Attorney General as aforesaid the competent authorities referred to in sub-article (1), subject to the conditions as may have been agreed upon as provided in the same sub-article, shall be authorised to take the appropriate measures and to exercise on board the vessel in regard to which appropriate measures have been authorised under this article all such powers of arrest, entry, search and seizure as are vested in the Executive Police of Malta.

(3) For the purposes of this article -"appropriate measures" with regard to a vessel include the boarding of and carrying a search on such vessel as well as such other appropriate action with respect to the vessel, persons and cargo on board such vessel if evidence of involvement of the vessel in a relevant offence is found; "relevant offence" shall have the same meaning assigned to it by article 120F(3); and "relevant vessel" means a ship or any other floating craft of any description, including hovercrafts and submersible crafts, flying the flag of Malta or displaying the marks of registry of Malta and exercising freedom of navigation in accordance with international law.