AN ITALIAN navy ship docked at the Albanian port of Shengjin today with eight refugees who will be processed there after being intercepted in international waters.

It was only the second transfer of refugees to Albania since two processing centres began operating in October, when the same Italian ship transferred the first 16 from Bangladesh and Egypt. Four were taken to Italy the same day because they were minors or had health problems. 

Twelve others were brought back to Italy three days later, following a ruling by Rome judges who rejected their detention because their countries of origin — Bangladesh and Egypt — were not safe enough for them to be sent back to.

The naval ship Libra, which can carry 200 people besides crew, left Lampedusa, Italy’s southernmost island, on Wednesday with eight men on board, according to Italian media. 

Italian Interior Ministry spokesman Francesco Kamel had confirmed that the Libra was bound for Albania, but he declined to give out any further information until the operation was complete. He didn’t say when it would arrive, nor how many people were on board.

Human rights groups have said that the arrangement between Italy and Albania violates international law.