BERLIN, April 3. /TASS/. German prosecutors are investigating the captain of a cargo ship that was detained in the port of Rostock after leaving Russia, suspecting him of violating foreign trade legislation, Reuters reported.

"Investigations are under way against the captain of the freighter on initial suspicion of a violation of the Foreign Trade and Payments Act," a spokeswoman for the Rostock public prosecutor's office told Reuters.

There were goods onboard that are subject to EU sanctions, according to the Port and Maritime Administration of Rostock. The Marshall Islands-flagged cargo ship, which is managed by Canada-based CSAL, called at the port of Rostock for repairs on March 4 due to propeller damage. Reuters reported the freighter had left from the Russian port of St. Petersburg.

DPA reported, citing an investigation by the Ostsee-Zeitung newspaper, that the ship was bound for the US with a 40-million-euro cargo that included birch wood and enriched uranium for power plants.

Reuters reported that German prosecutors said the birch wood, stored in 251 containers, is subject to EU sanctions against Russia. Germany’s main customs office declined comment to TASS on the ship’s detention, except saying that all ships and goods imported to the EU are subject to customs inspections to determine whether they are in compliance with sanctions against Russia, among other things.