(18-03-24) GAROWE (Halqabsi News) — Puntland has requested the return of pirates detained on the MV Ruen vessel for local prosecution within its jurisdiction. Puntland is seeking the repatriation of these individuals, who were seized by the Indian Navy, to ensure they face justice in Puntland.
Acting Minister of Ports in Puntland, Ahmed Yasin Salah, announced on Monday plans to negotiate the transfer of the captured pirates with the Indian government. The 35 pirates were apprehended by Indian forces following their attack on the MV Ruen, which had been under pirate control since December 2023. The pirates had commandeered MV Ruen for use as a mother pirate ship to launch attacks on other commercial ships in the region.
The Indian Navy is, however, planning to take them to India for prosecution under Indian laws. Hijacked off the Somali coast in December, the vessel’s release represents the first successful operation against Somali pirates capturing a ship since 2017. Additionally, this week witnessed the hijacking of the Bangladeshi cargo ship Abdullah by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean, endangering its crew of 23 members.
Halqabsi News
