Panama freeing most of North Korean crew in smuggled arms case

The North Korean-flagged cargo ship Chong Chon Gang is pictured in Fort Sherman Bay, a former U.S. base, on the outskirts of Colon city November 27, 2013. REUTERS/ Carlos Jasso

PANAMA CITY (Reuters) - Panama is freeing most of the 35 North Korean crew members it detained more than four months ago for smuggling Cuban weapons aboard a ship, a senior government official said on Wednesday.

Tomas Cabal, head of the anti-terrorism section of Panama's Foreign Ministry, said 32 of the crew of the Chong Chon Gang would be freed and should leave the country by Thursday.