Thursday, February 19, 2009

Russian Navy transfers detained Somali pirates to Yemen

The Russian Navy has handed over to Yemen 10 Somali pirates detained several days ago off the Horn of Africa, Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo told RIA Novosti on Wednesday.

The Navy spokesman said the Yemeni authorities would decide on any legal action taken against the detainees.

"The pirates were transferred from the Pyotr Veliky missile cruiser onto the Admiral Vinogradov destroyer, and then handed over to Yemen's Coast Guard and Interior Ministry," he said.

On February 12, two speedboats and a large parent ship were detained with 10 Somali pirates on board near Yemen's Sokotra Island. A helicopter from the Pyotr Veliky spotted the speedboats moving in the direction of an Iranian flagged fishing boat. Upon spotting the helicopter, the people on board the speedboats began hurling arms overboard.

The helicopter crew continued surveillance until the Pyotr Veliky arrived at the scene.

Weapons, including assault rifles and grenade launchers, as well as drugs and a large amount of cash were discovered on board the vessels.

Dygalo said earlier that "the detainees were in a state of narcotic intoxication."

According to the UN, Somali pirates carried out at least 120 attacks on ships in 2008, resulting in combined ransom payouts of around $150 million.

Around 20 warships from the navies of at least 10 countries, including Russia, are involved in anti-piracy operations off Somalia. The East African country, ravaged by years of civil war, has no functioning government.

Source: RIA Novosti

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