Police are questioning the crew of the MS Thor Liberty after what were described as 69 Patriot anti-missile missiles were found aboard.
"Fireworks"
Interior Minister Paivi Rasanen said the missiles were marked "fireworks".
The MS Thor Liberty had docked in the Finnish port of Kotka after leaving Germany last week.
Dock workers became suspicious after finding explosives poorly stored on open pallets, and the missiles were then found in containers marked "fireworks".
The managing director of the ship's owner, Thorco Shipping, expressed surprise. Thomas Mikkelsen told AFP news agency from Denmark that he was unaware of the matter.
Another company official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the ship had been detained in Finland and said the missiles could have been loaded on to the vessel by mistake, AFP adds.(emphasis added)
?
Now, who has "misplaced" 69 Patriot missiles and how much was earned in doing so.
And who played the double agent in this "surprise discovery?"
UPDATE: CNN reports Patriot missiles found on a ship bound for Asia were being sent legally. Belong to South Korea, they say.
Doesn't explain reported "surprise" of shipping company, labeling of "fireworks" - does it? Although, given the nature of first reports, perhaps it does . . .
Of course they were 'being sent legally'. Just like those choppers in Lord of War and the missiles belonging to them that were simply going to the neighboring country.
ReplyDeleteI realize using a film as an example is stupid but forging paperwork and making something technically legal is hardly the most difficult thing in the world for an arms smuggler.
More details in Danish newspaper Politiken, via Google Translate: Finnish pilot: Load on the Danish arms ship was tossed in the storm. Seems the ship docked in Finland to shelter from a storm.
ReplyDeleteAnd a related story, Renowned Danish businessman who is part owner of missile ship, includes a photo which may help solve the mystery of The Maltese Falcon!
ReplyDeleteSo... will we ever hear where these came from? Seems Patriots don't just lay around.
ReplyDeleteLooking more and more like a misunderstanding wrapped in a mis-translation caused by poor loading and stowage and brought to a head by a storm and some eagle eyed stevadores. See http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Harrowing+voyage+through+stormy+Baltic+Sea/1135270087743 for the latest reading of events. Where did the China angle come from in the first place.....
ReplyDeleteSerial numbers come in handy at a time like this.
ReplyDelete