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North Korea arms smuggling vessel sails through Panama Canal

The North Korean vessel Chong Chon Gang transited again the Panama Canal on 2 May and complied with all the waterway requirements.

Michele Labrut, Americas Correspondent

May 5, 2014

1 Min Read
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Bound for Pyongyang, the vessel carried 10,200 tonnes of sugar from Cuba. The vessel stopped a couple of days to fix some technical deficiencies in her engine and electrical system.

The Chon Chon Gang was detained in Panama on 10 July 2013 under suspicion of carrying drugs as she tried to transit the waterway. In fact, Panamanian authorities discovered a cargo of weapons – parts of MIG 21 aircraft, missiles launchers amongst others - hidden under tonnes of sugar bags.

The 35-crew was arrested but released in 15 February and returned to Cuba with the vessel after the shipowner paid a $600,000 fine to the Panama Canal Authority, for having endangered the security of the waterway and made false cargo declaration.

The captain and two other officers are still under detention in Panama facing charges of arms trafficking.

About the Author

Michele Labrut

Americas Correspondent

Michèle Labrut is a long-time Panama resident, a journalist and correspondent, and has continuously covered the maritime sector of Central & Latin America.

Michèle first came to Panama as a press attaché to the French Embassy and then returned to the isthmus as a foreign correspondent in the 1980s.

Author of Seatrade Maritime's annual Panama Maritime Review magazine and of several books, Michèle also wrote for Time magazine, The Miami Herald, NBC News and the Economist Intelligence Unit. She has also collaborated in making several documentaries for the BBC and European and U.S. television networks.

Michèle's profession necessitates a profound knowledge of the country, but her acumen is not from necessity alone, but a genuine passion for Panama.

In 2012 she was awarded the Order of Merit (Knight grade) by the French Government for her services to international journalism and in 2021 the upgrade to Chevalier grade.

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