Detained Russian ship released

Port Elizabeth : South African police said yesterday they had released a Russian-registered cargo ship which was detained for three weeks on suspicion of carrying illegal weapons and explosives en route to the Nigerian city of Lagos. The vessel, named Lada, had reportedly left Madagascar before stopping at Ngqura port outside the eastern city of Port Elizabeth. Local reports said police had searched the vessel after an anonymous tip-off and found weapons and explosives worth about $3.5 million in 20 containers on board.