Arms cargo crew detention extended

• Source: Global Times
• [02:17 December 15 2009]
• Comments

Unidentified crew members of a cargo plane that flew into Thailand carrying 35 tons of sanctions-busting weapons from North Korea leave handcuffed following a hearing Monday at the criminal court in Bangkok. Photo: AFP

A Thai court Monday extended the detention of the crew of a seized cargo aircraft loaded with 35 tons of arms from North Korea as its unscheduled arrival in Bangkok stirred questions over the illicit-weapons trade.

Bangkok Criminal Court approved a police request to extend the detention of four crew members from Kazakhstan and one from Belarus by 12 days, giving authorities more time to scrutinize the rocket-propelled grenades, surface-to-air missile launchers and other weapons found on the board.

"They have initially been charged with possession of heavy weapons and misstated details of the cargo," government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said.

The crew have denied the charges, saying they thought the plane was carrying "oil-drilling equipment" and had no idea they were transporting arms, police spokesman Pongsapat Pongcharoen said.

Panitan said weapon experts would be sent to a military base in Thailand's north, where the plane has been relocated to examine still-sealed crates.