Somalia arrests 8 pirates behind MV Abdullah hijacking: Local media
International Desk
At least eight pirates have been arrested on the East Coast of Puntland, a Federal state in northeastern Somalia, just moments after the hijacked Bangladeshi ship MV Abdullah was released from the hands of the notorious group operating in the country's waters, Somali media Garowe Online reports.
Somalia had struggled with piracy in the last three months with the pirates working closely with Al-Shabaab militants according to multiple sources in the country. There have been deliberate efforts to arrest and prosecute the pirates.
A high-ranking officer from Puntland Police Force informed Garowe Online that they have apprehended 8 members of the pirate group holding the Bangladesh-flagged ship MV Abdullah. It has not been confirmed whether the ransom money paid to the pirates was recovered during the operation.
Earlier, some reports indicated Somali pirates had released the MV Abdullah after receiving a $5 million ransom, local officials confirm. The Bangladeshi ship with a 23-member crew was hijacked in mid-March but it's not clear if the pirates were arrested after receiving the ransom.
Puntland Marine Police Force has increased surveillance along the coastline with support from Somalia’s international partners who have been working hard to help defuse piracy in the country. The efforts have to a larger extent stabilised the region.
