Finland OKs release of captured missiles

Finland says it has given permission for the release of 69 Patriot missiles, which Germany had sold South Korea, but were impounded in a Finnish port on suspicion of being transferred illegally. The Finnish government made the announcement on Wednesday after police and customsofficials completed their probe into the case. The surface-to-air missiles were found on a cargo ship, named Thor Liberty, in the Finnish port of Kotka on December 21. The vessel, which sails under an Isle of Man flag, is British-registered. According to Finnish authorities, the ship had not obtained authorization from Helsinki to transport military equipment through the Finnish territory. The government has detained the ship's captain and chief officer, who are both Ukrainians, on suspicion of trying to transport the missiles via Finland illegally.