Panama: 32 of 35 Detained North Koreans to Be Freed After months of investigation, Panama's chief prosecutor said Thursday that she would not file charges against 32 of 35 crew members of a North Korean freighter that was seized in July when Soviet-era jets, engines and antiaircraft missiles from Cuba were found on board. Immigration authorities are preparing to return most of the crew members to North Korea. But the captain, first officer and political officer will remain in Panama and face arms trafficking charges. Panamanian officials indicated in October that most of the crew would be released, but the prosecutor's office completed its investigation only this week. The seizure of the freighter, the 450-foot Chong Chon Gang, near the Panama Canal caused a diplomatic quarrel among Panama, Cuba and North Korea. A United Nations Security Council committee has been investigating whether the shipment violated sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear weapons program.