Two Missile Radar Systems Also Onboard The Ship Hidden Under Thousands Of Sacks Of Sugar

A North Korean ship that was detained in the Atlantic port of Colon, Panama, has been found to be transporting two MiG-21 airplanes as well as two missile radar systems hidden under thousands of sacks of sugar the Cuban government said was a donation for the North Korean people.

The Panamanian government said it detained the ship last week for unrevealed reasons. Reuters reports that the MiGs and the radar systems were discovered in containers in the cargo hold of the ship. When pressed, the Cuban government said that the weapons were "obsolete" and were being shipped to Korea for repair.

But Panamanian investigators said that the airplanes smelled strongly of fuel, indicating they had been recently used. Panamanian President Ricardo Martinelli said that undeclared weapons may not be transported through the Panama Canal hidden below other cargo.

Korea has asked that its ship and 34-member crew be released, but the Panamanian government has dismissed that request. They were arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle undeclared weapons through the canal.

FMI: http://www.pancanal.com/eng/