Panama detained a North Korean-flagged ship going to the Panama Canal from Cuba this week according to Reuters.
The ship, which was containing suspected missile equipment hidden under tons of brown sugar, was detained after a standoff in which the ship's captain reportedly tried to commit suicide.
President Ricardo Martinelli said the weapons were discovered when Panamanian authorities stopped the ship thinking it was carrying drugs.
"We found containers which presumably contain sophisticated missile equipment. That is not allowed. The Panama canal is a canal of peace, not war," Martinelli said to Panamanian radio.
At first it was unclear what the weapons were, but a photo posted on Martinelli's Twitter page showed a long, green missile-like object with a tapering, conical end, which security experts thought could either be radar equipment or missiles.
Panama's security minister, Jose Raul Mulino, said that authorities have discovered two containers of military equipment so far, though the ship may contain more.
The containers were hidden beneath more than 250,000 220-pound bags of sugar according to Reuters.
After the search began, Mulino said the captain became "violent," and tried to commit suicide after the ship was stopped near the port of Manzanillio.
Mulino wouldn't comment on the condition of the captain but did say he is receiving medical attention.
The ship, named Chong Chon Gang, was redirected to Manzanillio and 35 crew members were detained.
Javier Caraballo, Panama's top anti-drugs prosecutor, said the ship was on its way to North Korea.
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