Upon conducting anti-piracy operations in the village of Garacad in Puntland’s Mudug region, the police from Somalia’s semi-autonomous region of Puntland seized 43 pirates along with their weapons and a number of vessels.
Puntland officials have been claiming for months that they have removed the pirates from Garacad Village however there are still pirates using Garacad village as a hub. According to eyewitnesses that there are hijacked vessels near Garacad village, including the Panamian-flagged MV Iceberg 1.
The operations will continue in the Garacad, Ceel Dhanaane and Jariban districts until pirates are gone.
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World Maritime News Staff, December 26, 2011; Image: EU Navfor