Cruise Ship Officer Arrested Over War Crime Allegations

Italian authorities have detained a cruise ship security officer at the port of Civitavecchia on suspicion of war crimes and genocide linked to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

According to Corriere della Sera, the individual, identified as 58-year-old Milan Babic, had reportedly been employed on MSC Cruises vessels for several years using a false identity. He was arrested as the ship arrived in Civitavecchia following a voyage from Genoa.

Police said the arrest was not straightforward. Babic, described as nearly two meters tall, initially joined other crew members preparing to disembark but became suspicious after noticing plainclothes officers on the dock. He then returned onboard and concealed himself in a restricted area near the engine room. Authorities spent more than three hours searching before locating him inside what they described as a “floating city.”

Investigators believe he avoided detection for years by slightly altering his surname on official documents, reportedly by adding an accent mark. This approach was uncovered during routine checks by Italian border police, who compared different variations of non-Italian names. After confirming his identity with support from the cruise line and matching passport records, officers proceeded with the arrest.

Babic was initially taken to Borgata Aurelia prison and later transferred to a facility in Terni, where he remains in custody while judicial proceedings continue under a European arrest warrant issued by Croatia.

The warrant is linked to an investigation launched last year into individuals connected to paramilitary groups accused of carrying out ethnic cleansing during the Yugoslav wars of the 1990s. Italian authorities, citing information from Croatia, allege that Babic was involved in actions leading to the deaths and displacement of thousands of civilians. He is also wanted by Serbian authorities in connection with the killing of an elderly Serbian national who was bedridden due to illness and allegedly shot with a Kalashnikov after failing to follow an order.

These allegations are consistent with findings previously examined by the International Criminal Court, which has described similar actions as part of coordinated campaigns aimed at creating ethnically homogeneous territories during the conflict.

The case will now proceed to the extradition stage, where Italian courts will determine whether Babic will be transferred to Croatia to stand trial.