DOCKERS in the Italian city of Genoa have warned of an arms trafficking operation being run through its port after the discovery of tanks and weapons in the hold of a Saudi Arabian ship.

The Autonomous Port Workers Collective (Calp) published photographs of the deadly cargo on its website earlier this week. 

The tanks were found were on board the Bahri Jeddah which is moored at the northern Italian port.

Last week saw dockers and campaigners stage protests demanding more transparency from the port authorities on cargo transiting through Genoa. 

The demands of the workers have not been met, according to Calp. 

Italy has become a major hub for weapons bound for Ukraine leading to militant action from trade unionists to block their transport. 

Last month a 24-hour strike was held by workers at the port of Genoa with trade unionists raising a banner with the slogan: “Not a penny, a rifle or a soldier for war.“ 

Airport workers in Pisa refused to load a plane after they discovered weapons in boxes that were labelled as humanitarian aid. Questions were raised in the Italian parliament over the deception.

The USB union has called for a mobilisation on April 22 under the slogan “lower your weapons, raise your wages.”

It says that workers are carrying the burden of the war in Ukraine and has called for government action on jobs, pay, pensions and housing. 

Italy is now the sixth largest weapons manufacturer in the world and has agreed to raise military spending from 1.4 per cent of GDP to 2 per cent of GDP as stipulated by Nato.