Security

'Love Boat' Hijackers Apprehended by Anti-Pirate Force

A Spanish warship picked up nine suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean — and subsequently released them for lack of evidence. They were suspected of being involved in a pirate attack this weekend on the cruise ship MSC Melody. NAVFOR, the European Union’s counter-piracy force, made this announcement today: 9 Suspected pirates were apprehended by […]

numancia-800px-g36v_spain_navyA Spanish warship picked up nine suspected pirates in the Indian Ocean -- and subsequently released them for lack of evidence. They were suspected of being involved in a pirate attack this weekend on the cruise ship MSC Melody.

NAVFOR, the European Union's counter-piracy force, made this announcement today:

9 Suspected pirates were apprehended by the EU NAVFOR Spanish warship NUMANCIA 200 miles north of the Seychelles in the India Ocean shortly after the attack on the cruise liner MSC Melody last Sunday. However, as there was not sufficient conclusive evidence to prosecute the suspects, who were in poor health, they were released from custody off the Seychelles coast and picked up by their coastguard yesterday evening. The capture operation was conducted in co-operation with an EU NAVFOR French Maritime Patrol Aircraft and a warship from the Indian Navy which also discovered an abandoned skiff not far from the scene.

But the alleged pirates are not off the hook: They now face charges in the Seychelles, where they are in the custody of local authorities.

Establishing jurisdiction over Somali pirates -- particularly if they are caught in international waters -- has presented something of a legal conundrum for naval forces operating in the region. Earlier this month, the Dutch navy released a crew of alleged pirates who were captured in a commando raid on a Yemeni fishing vessel; according to news reports, NATO policy decreed that the Netherlands had no arrest powers in that case.

While a young Somali faces charges in the United States for his alleged involvement in the hostage drama on the Maersk Alabama, it seems that European navies prefer to pawn off suspected pirates on other states, particularly if their citizens are not directly involved. Most recently, the French frigate Nivose handed 11 suspected pirates over to the Kenyan authorities; the men were captured on board a pirate ship that supposedly took part in an assault on the MV Safmarine Asia last week in the Indian Ocean.

[PHOTO: Wikimedia]

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