Chinese Ship Detained in Colombia on Suspicion of Weapons Trafficking

The Chinese captain of a freighter stopped by the Colombian authorities is under house arrest in Cartagena for allegedly carrying unregistered weapons and military equipment bound for Cuba.

The Hong Kong-registered Da Dan Xia has been impounded for a week after local authorities claim 100 tonnes of gunpowder, 99 projectile bases and 3,000 artillery cartridge cases were discovered aboard, reports AFP.

While Beijing’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying insists that the Da Dan Xia has not flouted any Chinese or international laws, Colombian prosecutor Luis Gonzalez Leon says Captain Wu Hong will be charged with weapons trafficking.

The cargo ship was stopped before it was due to arrive in the northern Colombian city of Barranquilla en route to Havana.

[AFP]