British-registered ship caught taking arms to China

[asianobserve]

Any chance that this shipment was bound for the Philippines? The Philippines has been publicly making known its wish list for defensive weapons for the Spratlys area (conspiracy theory).

 

[utubekhiladi]

Any chance that this shipment was bound for the Philippines? The Philippines has been publicly making known its wish list for defensive weapons for the Spratlys area (conspiracy theory).

may be, then why ship it secretly?

 

[LETHALFORCE]

We have to wait for official comments from the WH, Pentagon or State Dept. But this article is a treasure find for conspiracy theorists (World's most vibrant cottage industry).

This is a major blow to Raytheon. patriot missile was always a problem system in the first gulf war it reportedly had a 27% success rate.

The Patriot Missile. Performance in the Gulf War Reviewed

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Any chance that this shipment was bound for the Philippines? The Philippines has been publicly making known its wish list for defensive weapons for the Spratlys area (conspiracy theory).

Interesting but it could be shipped from West Coast in USA.

 

[asianobserve]

Patriot missiles uncovered on ship in Finland
21 December 2011
(CBS/AP) Updated at 2:22 p.m. ET

HELSINKI - Around 160 tons of explosives and 69 surface-to-air missiles have been found by Finnish officials on a cargo ship bearing a British flag and ultimately destined for China, authorities said Wednesday. While they initially didn't know the missiles' intended recipients, an official later told CBS News he doesn't believe they're connected to terrorism.

"As far as we can make out the shipment was legal," Detective Chief Superintendent Rikosylikomisario Timo Virtanen of the National Bureau of Investigation told CBS News. "They were not trying to smuggle the missiles ... they are destined for South Korea."

Special Section: North Korea's "Dear Leader" Dies

The M/S Thor Liberty sailed from the north German port of Emden on Dec. 13 and two days later docked in Kotka, southern Finland, to pick up a cargo of anchor chains, officials told The Associated Press. Its final destination was Shanghai, but it wasn't clear whether that's where the arms shipment was going, officials said.

Virtanen said dock workers found massive amounts of picric acid — an explosive — and the missiles as they were loading the chains and alerted inspectors.

Some of the explosives were not stored properly, customs spokesman Petri Lounatmaa said, adding that an investigation was launched into a possible breach of Finnish export and weapons trading laws and that the cargo would be impounded if determined to be illegal.

Virtanen told CBS News that the ship didn't have permission to transport the explosives and missiles via Finland and that the explosives were improperly packed, both of which are illegal.

 

[LETHALFORCE]

Pakistan is reportedly trying to get HQ-9 (if Russia allows the missiles to be sold by China). It reportedly blows the Patriot system away (unconfirmed)

 

[asianobserve]

Cargo ship M/S Thor Liberty at the Mussalo harbour in Kotka, Finland Wednesday Dec. 21 2011. Finnish customs found 69 Patriot surface to air missiles on the British flagged ship, destined for the Chinese port of Shanghai from Germany. Police and cust
Finland Impounds Patriot Missiles, Explosives - ABC News

 

[asianobserve]

Finland Impounds Patriot Missiles, Explosives
By MATTI HUUHTANEN Associated Press
HELSINKI December 21, 2011 (AP)

Finnish authorities on Wednesday impounded 160 tons of explosives and 69 surface-to-air missiles found on a British-flagged cargo ship ultimately destined for Shanghai, China, officials said.

The M/S Thor Liberty sailed from the north German port of Emden on Dec. 13 and two days later docked in Kotka, southern Finland, to pick up a cargo of anchor chains, Finnish Customs spokesman Petri Lounatmaa said.

Investigating officers didn't know the origin of the Patriot missiles or who was supposed to receive them, he said.

"We have impounded the explosives and missiles and asked the Defense Ministry to transport and store them," Lounatmaa said. "At this stage we don't know where it (the cargo) was loaded on the ship or if the Thor Liberty planned a drop before its port of destination in China."

Detective Superintendent Timo Virtanen of the National Bureau of Investigation said dock workers found the explosives — picric acid — badly stored on open pallets instead of in closed containers. They alerted inspectors who found the missiles in containers marked as holding fireworks.

Interior Minister Paivi Rasanen said she had not heard of a similar case.

"Of course, there are legal transports of weapons or defense material (through Finland) but in this case the cargo was marked as containing fireworks," Rasanen told national broadcaster YLE TV. "That is quite unusual."

Lounatmaa said customs officials and police have launched a joint investigation into a possible breach of Finnish export and weapons trading laws.

 

[utubekhiladi]

^^^^ asianobserve


dude, stop posting the same news and articles which is already posted in the same thread...

 

[asianobserve]

^^^^ asianobserve


dude, stop posting the same news and articles which is already posted in the same thread...

Sorry. :shocked:

 

[Ray]

I wonder how the ship's captain and the ship's Company is not aware as to who sent it and to whom and where!

Unless the papers are in order, no ship can carry goods.

 

[nimo_cn]

I highly doubt they are destined for China.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

I highly doubt they are destined for China.

Alleged to be this MIM-104 Patriot missile system?

They would have been boarded in Germany then?

MIM-104 Patriot - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[asianobserve]

"As far as we can make out the shipment was legal," Detective Chief Superintendent Rikosylikomisario Timo Virtanen of the National Bureau of Investigation told CBS News. "They were not trying to smuggle the missiles ... they are destined for South Korea."

 

[W.G.Ewald]

"As far as we can make out the shipment was legal," Detective Chief Superintendent Rikosylikomisario Timo Virtanen of the National Bureau of Investigation told CBS News. "They were not trying to smuggle the missiles ... they are destined for South Korea."

From Wiki link above:

Republic of Korea (South Korea)

Republic of Korea Air Force

1st Air Defense Artillery Brigade
2nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade

I guess everybody can relax now. Except for the dockworkers.

Detective Superintendent Timo Virtanen of the National Bureau of Investigation said dock workers found the explosives — picric acid — badly stored on open pallets instead of in closed containers. They alerted inspectors who found the missiles in containers marked as holding fireworks.

 

[Ray]

That ends the story!

Vigilance is the hallmark of Freedom!

 

[W.G.Ewald]

That ends the story!

Vigilance is the hallmark of Freedom!

Sir, one loose thread remains: Why were Patriot missiles shipped as "fireworks"?

 

[asianobserve]

Sir, one loose thread remains: Why were Patriot missiles shipped as "fireworks"?

So as not to freak out the NOKORs.

No doubt the SOKORs need all the hardware they can muster in these very crucial stage of new Kim transition in NOKOR. But it and its allies must do the beefing up of forces secretely so as not to upset the already tense situation.

 

[W.G.Ewald]

So as not to freak out the NOKORs.

No doubt the SOKORs need all the hardware they can muster in these very crucial stage of new Kim transition in NOKOR. But it and its allies must do the beefing up of forces secretely so as not to upset the already tense situation.

North Koreans would say fireworks are belligerent.

 

[asianobserve]

North Koreans would say fireworks are belligerent.

Better fireworks than high tech Patriots... Besides fireworks would mean that the South is preparing to join in welcoming the new Kim!