Cyprus suspects air defence systems on Syria-bound ship

Police said they have completed their investigation on the cargo vessel and found that 18 out of 21 trucks were fitted with mobile radar that "appear to be part of an air defence system".

Apart from the trucks, no other suspect military equipment was found on the Panama-flagged ship, they said.

"The police have presented the facts clearly and effectively ... This is a serious issue," Justice Minister Sophocles Sophocleous told reporters, adding that the case was now in the hands of Cyprus customs and the foreign ministry.

The radar-equipped vehicles were offloaded from the vessel which was impounded on September 5 at the southern port of Limassol on suspicion of carrying an illicit stash of weapons.

Authorities acted on a tip-off by Interpol that the vessel could be carrying smuggled weapons.

The radar systems on the vehicles were said to be "old technology upgraded with electronic computers which are possibly tracking and surveillance radar".

The ship's bill of lading say it was carrying meteorological equipment.

But Interpol informed Cyprus that the Gregorio 1 may be involved in arms smuggling and was loaded with the shipment in China and North Korea.

The shipment was being transported to Syria and the Syrian government is claiming the cargo which it insists is weather-tracking equipment.

The ship anchored off Cyprus seeking permission to refuel and re-supply after leaving Egypt's Port Said for Latakia in Syria. It was boarded by a special Cyprus police unit and army explosives experts with search warrants.

Police said the documentation did not match the description of the goods on the ship and the 15-man Ukrainian and Russian crew was questioned about the suspect cargo.

In Egypt, a Suez Canal official said Monday that the ship was allowed through the waterway on its way toward Syria because it had submitted complete paperwork showing it had military equipment on board.

"There was no internal or foreign security warning to prevent its passage," the official said, asking not to be named.

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