India has detained an empty North Korean cargo ship bound for Iran after it strayed into Indian waters, baffling coast guard officials and police about the purpose of its voyaged.
MV Omrani-II developed a snag and entered Indian waters on October 29 and was towed to the Mumbai Port where the crew was being questioned by Indian intelligence and customs officials.
The crew has not been able to explain why they were sailing an empty vessel to Iran," a senior coast guard official said. It is over 3000 nautical miles between the two countries.
A U.N. Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on North Korea after its October 9 nuclear test calls on U.N. members to take steps, including "as necessary" the inspection of cargoes to and from North Korea to prevent illicit trafficking in nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
But Indian officials said they were not acting at the behest of the U.N. but simply because a suspicious ship had entered Indian waters.
Both North Korea and Iran were suspected members of Pakistani scientist A.Q. Khan's nuclear trafficking network.
It is possible that the vessel was sneaking missile components to Iran.
North Korea Cruise Ship
Empty Ship Heading To Iran Is Mystery
MV Omrani II - October 29, 2006
