Patrol boats of the Greek Coast Guard search for missing passengers after a fatal collision at the waters near the Greek island Aegina, Aug. 16, 2016. (Xinhua/Stelios Stefanou)

by Maria Spiliopoulou

ATHENS, July 3 (Xinhua) -- Greek Coast Guard confirmed on Monday that one of its patrol vessels opened warning fire against a Turkish freighter ship sailing in the waters off Rhodes island in the southeastern Aegean Sea, according to an official statement issued from the Piraeus-based headquarters.

The warning shot against the "ACT" Turkish-flagged ship was fired after the latter refused to stop for an inspection, according to the Greek Coast Guard press statement.

Rhodes Port Authority had earlier received information that the particular vessel was carrying drugs cargo, the official statement added.

Its captain was asked by the Greek Coast Guard to lead the ship to the port of Rhodes, but he refused, according to the press release.

The Greek Coast Guard has informed its Turkish counterpart of the incident, the statement stressed.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry was quoted by media as saying that it was in contact with the relevant authorities. The report added two Turkish coast guard ships were at the scene.