LONDON, Sept 7: A Syria-bound ship allegedly carrying mobile radar units from North Korea has been impounded by port authorities in Cyprus and its crew held for questioning, a port security official said on Thursday.

The official said the Panamanian-flagged Gregorio 1 was seized on Tuesday at the southern port of Limassol on suspicion of arms smuggling following an Interpol alert. It was sailing to Syria’s Latakia port.

“It was stopped because it was initially suspected of carrying weapons for Syria ... We had information from Interpol and action was taken on it,” Fokas Riris, head of port facility security in Limassol, said.

He said police had impounded 21 mobile radar units that were found aboard the ship, and that he crew were being held by police for questioning.

“They are saying the radar were supposed to be used for weather-related observation, but this kind of radar has multiple uses ... It’s a serious matter,” Mr Riris said.

Riris said the ship was also carrying steel pipes.—Reuters