The three North Korean sailors imprisoned for smuggling weapons through the Panama Canal aboard the Chong Chon Gang left Panama for Cuba on Saturday, after being acquitted in June.

The Chong Chon Gang’s captain, first officer and political officer were charged after attempting to illegally move weapons through the canal in July 2013. Panama’s courts absolved the officers however on June 28 on the grounds that the charges fell outside the court’s jurisdiction.

“Two North Korean diplomats to Cuba arrived in Panama on (July) 11 and went straight to Panama’s Immigration Office to escort Captain Lee Yong Il, Chief officer Hong Yong