Korean arms smuggling vessel fined $1 million

THE NORTH KOREAN ship that tried to enter the Panama Canal carrying undeclared weapons from Cuba has been fined $1 million says the Canal Authority (ACP ).

"We have imposed a proposed penalty of up to a million dollars ," said Canal Administrator Jorge Quijano , saying that the ship was "to some extent a risk to our channel and our people " .

The AFP news agency reported that Quijano said that the notification of the fine was given "to the owners of the ship and the captain ( … ) and so far cannot sail until they consign a deposit covering two-thirds of the amount that would have imposed " equivalent to about $650,000 .
The North Korean freighter Chong Chon Gang was arrested on July 10 on suspicion of carrying drugs. it was about to enter the Panama Canal from the Atlántic side when , authorities discovered 25 containers with weapons and military vehicles hidden under a cargo of sacks of sugar .

A special mission of the United Nations visited Panama in August to see if the load violated any of the UN resolutions on North Korea . Quijano said that the fine can be modified according to the disclaimers from the ship’s owner but said " we have had no formal response from the vessel or its owners"
The 35 North Korean crew members arrested are detained at Fort Sherman , a former U.S. military base in Panama , which feature amenities such as video , satellite TV, air conditioning, sports and smoking areas and even a beach.
They could be sentenced to up to 12 years for arms trafficking says the AFP report. Warships or military or nuclear , equipment frequently pass through the canal the only requirement for the transit of these ships is the notice to local authorities to take appropriate safety measures .
The most severe penalties range up to $ 100,000 for "serious" breaches and up to a million dollars for "very serious" offenses.