MOSCOW, August 25 (RIA Novosti) - Allegations...

Press speculation on the mystery surrounding the Arctic Sea"s disappearance has been rife with some media saying the Russian authorities are trying to cover up a smuggling or trafficking operation. Moscow-based columnist Yulia Latynina speculated that the vessel was secretly shipping arms via Algeria to a rogue state such as Iran or Syria.

Other reports have suggested that the Arctic Sea was hiding a second, smaller vessel while sailing off Sweden"s east coast.

Russian envoy to NATO Dmitry Rogozin has dismissed such allegations as "fantastic" and "ridiculous."

"We do not rule out that it may have carried more than just sawn timber," Alexander Bastrykin, head of the Investigations Committee at the Russian Prosecutor General"s Office, said in an interview with Rossiiskaya Gazeta that will be published on Wednesday.

He confirmed that the Arctic Sea crewmembers were in custody and being questioned.

"This is part of the reason why we have detained the

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