MOSCOW, September 16 (RIA Novosti) - A team...

The Arctic Sea has over 6,000 metric tons of timber on board, he said.

"As a result of the investigation, including a search of the vessel and a probe into its documents, it was established that the cargo vessel was carrying pine timber instead of the more valuable mahogany," the sailor said.

Russian and international media has speculated that the ship could have been involved in a state-sponsored arms trafficking operation, including suggestions that Russia attempted to deliver missiles for S-300 air defense systems to Iran or Syria.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov dismissed the speculation earlier in September as "a complete lie."