Israel says the shipment came from Iran, which the Islamic Republic denies.
The official said today the missiles have a range of 90 kilometres (60 miles) and the ship carrying them was under surveillance while it was off Sudan's Red Sea coast.
He said the ship took the same route used by vessels ferrying potential illegal migrants who arrive in Sinai and then sneak across the border into Israel.
Hamas, the militant Islamic group ruling Gaza, says it was not involved in the seized missiles.
