RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- A ship loaded with arms and ammunition seized off the southern Saudi coast originated from Yemen and was on its way to Sudan, reports said Wednesday.
Saudi Interior Ministry spokesman Brig. Mansour Turki said the ship's crew members identified themselves as Sudanese and admitted they were trying to smuggle weapons into Sudan.
Turki said the crew admitted having lost its way and entered Saudi territorial waters by mistake.
"The rules adopted in this case are in line with internationally recognized norms, which the kingdom will be implementing after verifying the nature of the territorial violation at the end of the investigation," Turki said.
"If we find out that the violation was committed intentionally the violators will be punished in Saudi Arabia, and if it was a mistake they will be repatriated."
The ship was intercepted Tuesday off the southern coast of Jazan carrying hundreds of automatic rifles and large quantities of ammunition.