Somaliland: Coastal Guards Arrest Pirates
December 18, 2009

Somaliland coastal guards at Lughaya near the border with Djibouti captured eleven pirates with their small boat and weapons.

The Somaliland’s Interior Minister told the media that the pirates were all from Puntland and have been trying to hijack ships off the Somaliland western coast. The minister said some of them tried to escape but were surrounded by the Somaliland forces. “All of them were arrested, no one managed to escape” said the Minister.

“No, they did not carry out any attacks when they were caught” the minister told to the reporters.

The minister said that it is clear all of them are from the neighboring Somalia’s region of Puntland. He mentioned that after interrogation it is clear that they are from Puntland and planning to carry out operations in the area.

“It looks like they could not make their way because of the heavy winds” said the Minister.

Somaliland has been successful in its operations against the pirates in the past few years. Since last year, a number of pirates have been captured in Berbera and in some other areas of the country. Although the Coastal Guards do not receive any international support but Somaliland government managed to secure its coasts from piracy.

Lughaya is located at the border with Djibouti and this is the first time in the history that pirates try to carry out operations in the area.


Source: Somalilandpress