Moscow on Monday said the Russian navy had freed the crew of the freighter and arrested eight suspected hijackers after the ship had been missing for weeks. The Arctic Sea was located off the coast of West Africa, after it had diverted off its course from Finland to Algeria after being hijacked by eight suspected pirates, Moscow said.

Russia says eight armed men -- four Estonians, two Latvians and two Russians -- took control of the freighter July 26 when it was sailing in Swedish waters. Instead of continuing on to its destination Algeria, they set course for western Africa. Initial reports said the men left the vessel without taking anything.

There has been much speculation about why the Arctic Sea, which was reportedly transporting wood worth less than $2 million, was hijacked. The ship's owner says no claims of ransoms were made, and Russia has repeatedly misinformed the public about the ship's whereabouts.

Some experts have hinted at the possibility that the ship may have a much more valuable freight: speculation included drugs, Russian arms deliveries to a West African country, or even nuclear proliferation.

Mikhail Voitenko, the editor of Russian Maritime Bulletin-Sovfracht, told the London-based Daily Telegraph that the crew doesn't know why the hijacking took place. He said Moscow, which sent four warships after the Arctic Sea, may have pursued the freighter to safeguard its national interest.

"The operation cost more than the cargo and ship combined," he told the newspaper. "It makes sense only if looked at as a conflict between states. I believe states, state interests, were involved in what happened. I believe the countries involved found a solution and agreed to 'keep it in the family.'"

European experts don't believe in a case of traditional piracy: The Baltic Sea is one of the world's best-secured waters. The last time pirates attacked a ship here was in the 17th century. "Usually pirates need a safe haven close by to operate from, as is the case with piracy off the coast of Somalia, which is totally different," one EU maritime official told the same newspaper.

The Russian sailors remain on the Russian navy vessel. The alleged pirates are being questioned, and the coming days may see further revelations.

"This is quite a unique and particular case, the full details of which will one day certainly make a story for a Hollywood movie," a European Commission spokesman said Tuesday.

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