Buenos Aires seized weapons and drugs from a US military aircraft
Argentina has demanded the United States an explanation in connection with seizure of cargo with undeclared weapons and drugs on a US military aircraft landed in Buenos Aires, Kazakhstan Today reports.
Almaty. February 15. Kazakhstan Today - Argentina has demanded the United States an explanation in connection with seizure of cargo with undeclared weapons and drugs on a US military aircraft landed in Buenos Aires, Kazakhstan Today reports.
Argentina accused the United States of being uncooperative with a probe into why undeclared weapons and drugs were sent the South American country on a US military aircraft last week, AFP reported.
The diplomatic spat went public after Buenos Aires authorities seized what they said were undeclared weapons and drugs, but US officials described it as routine equipment for training the Argentine federal police.
Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman on Monday told CNN that the United States has not provided sufficient answers.
"They must give an explanation," Timerman said. "The United States must understand that they can't sent war materials without informing the government. And now they refuse to cooperate with the investigation."
But the US State Department on Monday said it was "puzzled and disturbed" by the seizure of what it said was routine equipment for police training.
Officials in Argentina said the US Air Force C-17 transport plane was searched and its cargo seized by customs officials on Thursday at Ezeiza International Airport after arriving with experts and material for a hostage rescue training exercise.
In a statement late Sunday, President Cristina Kirchner's government said it would lodge a protest with Washington and ask it to cooperate in a probe into the US Air Force's attempt "to violate Argentine laws by bringing in hidden material in an official shipment."
Argentina has said it seized "sensitive material" that had not been declared in a manifest submitted by the US embassy.
"Among the material seized, which the State Department makes no reference to, are from weapons to different drugs, including various doses of morphine," the foreign ministry said in Sunday's statement.
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