Leader of Pirate Group That Hijacked MV-Abdullah Arrested in Puntland

GOOBJOOG NEWSlPUNTLAND: The ring-leader of a piracy group that hijacked a Bangladeshi-flagged vessel in March and subsequently secured a ransom of $5 million has been arrested.

Police in Galkaayo, Puntland announced the arrest of Abshir Abdi Jowfe following a ‘successful operation. He becomes the third pirate to be arrested in under a week in Nugaal and Mudug regions of Puntland.

Jowfe and his group secured a $5 million ransom in mid April and released the MV-Abdullah and 23-member crew. The vessel’s owner, the KSRM Group, said the vessel and its crew were freed following negotiations.

The MV Abdullah, a Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier – a type of merchant ship used to transport large amounts of cargo – was hijacked in March as it was heading from Mozambique to the United Arab Emirates.

The hijacking happened about 600 nautical miles east of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu.