Finnish authorities on Wednesday detained a British-flagged ship and its 30 all-Ukrainian crews at the Port of Kotka on suspicion of illegally transporting 69 Patriot missiles and 160 tons of explosives.

Customs inspectors found the missiles and explosives when the m/s Thor Liberty, owned by Danish firm Thorco, docked at Kotka in southern Finland on Dec. 15 to pick up a cargo of anchor chains and an old paper machine. The ship came from the German port of Emden.

Germany's defence ministry on Thursday claimed ownership of the missiles destined for South Korea but not the explosives.
Markku Koskinen, the director of traffic operations at the port of Kotka, said Thursday the explosives destined for China are also legitimate, according to Washington Post. However, he said the explosives inside wooden boxed would be transferred to metal containers to be stored safely.

Klaus Kaartinen, spokesman for the National Bureau of Investigation, said Finnish police and customs would continue their investigation into the cargo because these were not properly declared and stored.

The surface-to-air Patriot missiles are weapons of the U.S. Army manufactured by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Florida, USA. It's primary use is to intercept ballistic and cruise missiles.

During the 1991 Gulf War, the missiles were extensively used. Patriot missile batteries are used by the military of Taiwan, Egypt, Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait,the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Spain.