Somalia: Pakistani fishing vessel hijacked off Puntland coast
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- Posted On 23-11-2015, 02:36PM
GAROWE, Somalia, November 23, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Somali pirates marked first armed robbery in the Indian Ocean in months with the hijacking of Pakistani fishing boat off the coast of historic Eyl coastal town in northeastern Somalia, officials told Garowe Online on Monday.
Puntland Counter-Piracy Agency Director, Abdirizak Mohamed Dirir Du’aysane said, a fishing boat with 15 crew members on board fell into the hands of three Somali pirates.
The hijacked boat—Iranian-flagged---but owned by Pakistanis was forced to sail towards a pirate enclave, El Hur.
Overnight on Sunday, many fishing vessels, believed to be illegal trawlers were sighted in territorial waters, he added.
The zeisure by a gang of three from fledgling Galmudug in central Somalia marks the first in recent years.
Puntland Anti-Piracy Agency Director has warned of the return of high seas crimes, more probably on the grounds of unprecedented pillage in the Exclusive Economic Zone.
Somali pirates have this week freed Thai vessel in a signal for potential spurt in piracy incidents in the war-ravaged East African country.
GAROWE ONLINE
