According to Kathimerini:
Authorities in Piraeus today were to continue their inspection of a German-flagged French-owned vessel that had been en route to Syria from North Korea with a cargo believed to comprise banned weapons.
Following a tip-off from another country, which was not identified, Greek authorities intercepted the vessel and ordered its mooring at the port of Piraeus so checks could be carried out. Coast guard officers, military experts and members of the National Intelligence Service (EYP) participated in the inspection, which did not result in the discovery of any weapons but did turn up a large quantity of what a government source yesterday described as “nonmilitary material that could have a dual use.” This material reportedly included pieces of metal and pipes that could be used in the construction of missile launchers.
The United Nations Security Council agreed in June last year to ban the export of all weapons from North Korea.
According to Reuters:
The expanded sanctions were aimed at cutting off its arms sales, a vital export estimated to earn it more than $1 billion a year.
North Korea’s biggest weapons sales come from ballistic missiles, with Iran and other Middle Eastern states as customers, according to U.S. government officials.
Read the full stories here:
Ship checked for weapons
Kathimerini
9/29/2010
Greece searches ship for North Korean arms – source
Reuters
9/28/2010
