MOSCOW, August 25 (RIA Novosti) - The Russian...

"The preliminary search of the ship did not reveal the presence of suspicious cargo on board. A more thorough search will be conducted in one of the ports on the way to Russia," the ministry said.

The Arctic Sea is currently being towed to the Russian port of Novorossiisk on the Black Sea. Four crew members remain on board, while the other 11 were flown to Moscow to be questioned by the Russian authorities.

The eight alleged hijackers have been arrested and are being investigated on piracy charges.