Posted on 09/07/2006 8:50:10 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
Cyprus halts Syria-bound ship
A ship suspected of carrying illicit cargo from North Korea to Syria has been impounded by port authorities in Cyprus and its crew arrested while police search the cargo, the head of maritime security at the port of Limassol said on Thursday.
"It was stopped because it was initially suspected of carrying weapons for Syria ... We had information from Interpol and action was taken on it," Fokas Riris, head of port facility security in Limassol said by telephone from Cyprus.
"All 15 crew have been arrested and are being questioned by police, all government agencies in Cyprus were notified and were involved," Riris said of the incident which he described as serious.
He said no weapons had been found aboard the Panamanian-flagged Gregorio 1, but added that police had discovered 21 mobile radar units which had been impounded.
"They are saying the radar were supposed to be used for weather-related observation, but this kind of radar has multiple uses ... It's a serious matter," he said.
Riris said the ship, which was also carrying a cargo of steel pipes, was impounded by the port on Tuesday.
The vessel was en route from North Korea to the Syrian port of Latakia but was diverted to Limassol after intelligence received by the port from Interpol, Riris said.
"Police are checking the rest of the cargo. It's up to the government and officials what will happen next," he said.
Ping!
How nicely intelligence works when you do not have treasonous bastards running the media or political/judicial systems.
Yo, Il, all your broke missiles are belong to us!
Flag of convenience? I tried the Panama Maritime Authority but no dice. BTW, United States and Panama have signed a reciprocal agreement to allow the boarding of ships suspected of carrying cargoes of weapons of mass destruction, their delivery systems, or related materials.
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