Somali Pirates part of international network
The pirates causing havoc off the coast of Somalia claim to have an international network of support to conduct their ransom operations.
From the AP (via Google News):
Ahmed Dahir Suleyman is cagey as he talks about the global network that funds and supports piracy off the coast of Somalia.
“We have negotiators, translators and agents in many [...]
Operations of Somali Pirates
The Associated Press looks at how the pirates off the coast of Somalia operate.
From the AP (via Google News):
As piracy explodes off Somalia’s lawless coast, the questions become ever more stark: How can ragtag bands of Somali pirates stand up to international warships? And why not just shoot the bandits when they try to clamber [...]
Leader claims pirates difficult to stop
A leader of a gang of pirates in the waters of Somalia claims that conditions of poverty will always motivate the pirates.
From CNN:
Somalis are so desperate to survive that attacks on merchant shipping in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean will not stop, a pirate leader promises.
“The pirates are living between life and [...]
Payment of Ransom a tricky business
As pirates continue to hold hostages off the coast of Somalia, the process to pay out ransoms remains a tricky business for those paying.
From the Guardian:
The lesson from recent years in the Gulf of Aden is that piracy pays, and it is a lesson that has not been lost on the pirates.
Piracy is big business [...]
Somali Pirates negotiating for $8 million
The pirates holding a Ukraine ship filled with arms is currently negotiating a $8 million bounty.
From the IHT:
The Somali pirates who hijacked an arms-laden Ukrainian freighter nearly two weeks ago may soon be getting their treasure — loads of it, maritime officials and associates of the pirates said on Wednesday.
After sticky negotiations, which several people involved [...]
More info on the Somalia Pirates
Here are several news articles on the pirates off the coast of Somalia.
Piracy costing shippers between $18 to $30 million in ransom payments this year (Financial Times).
374 hostages held by pirates in September (Bloomberg News).
Pirates involved in all types of black market activities and serves as heroes to Somali youth (The Observer).
It is a fair [...]
Somali pirates only want money; view itself as “Coast Guard”
The pirates in Somalia who have seized a Ukrainian ship filled with arms are stating that they only wanted to attack the ship because it was “big”.
From the IHT:
The Somali pirates who hijacked a Ukrainian freighter loaded with tanks, artillery, grenade launchers and ammunition said in an interview Tuesday that they had no idea that [...]
Kidnap and Ransom market in Somalia is growing
Wired Magazine blog Danger Room has a post on the growing business of Somali Pirates and the amount of revenue they produce.
From Danger Room:
This is only the latest and most headline-friendly event in worrying trend: Somali gunmen, on land and at sea, are successfully squeezing millions of dollars per month in ransoms from foreign companies [...]
Somali leaders asks international community for help against pirates
The leader of Somalia’s opposition group is asking the international community to address the issue of piracy off the coast of Somalia.
From the AFP (via Google News):
Somali waters are the most dangerous in the world for pirate attacks. The International Maritime Bureau reported more than 24 known attacks in the area between April and June [...]
Pirates raising the cost of shipping insurance
The Wall Street Journal reports that pirate activities off the coast of Somalia is increasing the cost of shipping insurance and may even lead to military intervention.
From the Wall Street Journal:
Pirates have stepped up attacks on merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden, increasing insurance costs for ship owners and raising the specter of military [...]
