Finnish police find Patriot missiles in cargo..... 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. They said they didn't know the origin of the Patriot missiles or who was supposed to receive them. By MATTI HUUHTANEN Associated Press 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. They said they didn't know the origin of the Patriot missiles or who was supposed to receive them. 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 said. Its final destination was Shanghai, but it wasn't clear whether that's where the arms shipment was going, officials said. Detective superintendent Timo Virtanen of the National Bureau of Investigation 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. "At this stage we don't know where it was loaded on the ship or if the Thor Liberty planned a drop before its port of destination in China," Lounatmaa told
69 - what an odd number Since the ordinance comes in a 4 pack - why 69? And China? I'm thinking Russia a whole lot closer Finland. THanks for the tip
According to other articles I've seen the ship's final destination was China (cargo of anchor chains) but they were first supposedly stopping in S. Korea to unload the weaponry. I could see a need for a shipment of Patriot missiles with the current anxiety over possible war with the north. So far they are saying the shipment was legit.
Some butts need to be in a real tight sling over letting these things get away. Surely they cannot be legally sold w/o lots of clearances.
The CBS story I read,reported that the so called Patriots were being shipped in crates marked fireworks. Those were awfull big crates for fireworks.The story dont ring right to me. Now if it said that each crate were loaded with 69 Stingers,it would sound more plausable.We send those every where. Matt
