MOSCOW, September 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russian...

Global media has been rife with rumors that the Russian-operated ship could have been involved in an arms-smuggling or trafficking operation on a state level.

"The presence of S-300 on board the Arctic Sea cargo ship is a complete lie," Lavrov told a news conference in Moscow.

He added that Russia would conduct a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the ship"s disappearance as the vessel was sailing under a Maltese flag.

"It [the investigation] will be completely transparent, and I hope everyone will be convinced that these rumors are absolutely ungrounded," Lavrov said.

The Maltese-flagged vessel, officially carrying lumber from Russia to Algeria, was reportedly boarded by a group of eight men on July 24 and mysteriously disappeared in the Atlantic.

It was discovered off Cape Verde on August 16 by Russia"s Ladny warship and is currently being towed to the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiisk. The ship is due to arrive at

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