The vessel “LSS SUCESS” should not, in principle, have approached the exclusive economic zone south of Madagascar. Having departed from Mozambique with a cargo of livestock destined, according to Mozambican authorities, for Guinea-Conakry, it is now raising numerous questions.
The alert was raised by Malagasy authorities on Saturday evening. A cattle transport ship, originating from Mozambique, headed toward Madagascar’s exclusive economic zone, while its final destination was supposed to be Guinea-Conakry, according to Mozambican officials. The “LSS SUCESS,” registered in Tanzania, is reportedly carrying some five hundred live zebu. Mozambican veterinary services had authorized the transport of 547 male zebu to Guinea-Conakry, yet the ship took a different course.
“At 4:00 AM last Sunday, the Tanzanian-flagged cargo ship, identified by number 6927092 and MMSI 677035200, was in transit approximately 125.82 nautical miles, or 233 kilometers, southwest of Nosy Manintse, near Androka. It was heading east-northeast, and its last signal was emitted at 12:19 AM,” detailed Luc Findrama, the Regional Director of Agriculture and Livestock for the Atsimo Andrefana region.
According to the MarineTraffic application, which tracks ship positions in real time, the “LSS SUCESS” left Mozambique on June 22 and was scheduled to reach Mauritius on July 7. However, according to the latest data available last night, the ship had been in radio silence for nearly eighteen hours. “Was it hijacked by pirates? Did it attempt to reach Mauritius illicitly? Were the Mozambican authorities mistaken?” These are the many hypotheses circulating since yesterday regarding the cargo ship.
Sanitary Status
Malagasy authorities fear that the ship may be carrying animals that pose a health risk. Throughout Sunday, the vessel remained within Madagascar’s exclusive economic zone, according to data from MarineTraffic. “It has been in radio silence since then, which highlights the highly suspicious nature of the vessel’s intentions,” emphasized Bruno Ibramdjee, the Prefect of Toliara.
As of press time, the ship still shows no signs of activity. According to the Regional Director of Agriculture and Livestock of Atsimo Andrefana, Madagascar maintains an “indemnity status” regarding highly contagious animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease or peste des petits ruminants (PPR). The risks associated with the passage or a potential landing of this ship coming from Mozambique on the southern coast of Madagascar are therefore considered significant. Authorities in the Atsimo Andrefana region have already mobilized local disaster risk management representatives to deal with any eventuality.
The “LSS SUCESS” was already involved in a case in 2020 following the transport of a drug shipment valued at an estimated 30 million Mauritian rupees. In 2021, about forty oxen died during the transport of a shipment of nearly five hundred head of cattle from South Africa to Mauritius.
Captured & Published at: 2026-06-29 07:00:41 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/06/navigation-un-bateau-suspect-rode-dans.html