Somali officials intercept pirate ransom payment

Somali government security forces on Tuesday seized almost $3.5 million U.S. dollars and arrested several foreigners at Mogadishu airport who intended to transfer the money to pirates in the center of the country, reports Xinhua, quoting a Somali security official who declined to be named.

When two small planes carrying the money landed at the airport, Somali security forces impounded the planes and the cash and detained the crew and passengers. Xinhua says those detained reportedly included American, British and Kenyan nationals.

The Somali government has always been opposed to the paying of ransom payouts to pirates, notes the Xinhua report, saying that Somali officials maintain that the millions of dollars given to pirates only fuels the menace and have called for the international community to help its forces deal with pirate problem on land.

May 25, 2011