Sunday, November 7, 2010

It Pays To Be A Somali Pirate

Photo: The Samho Dream's 24 crew members are said to be in good condition.

Somali Pirates Receive Record ransom For Ships' Release -- BBC

Somali pirates are reported to have received a total of $12.3m (£7.6m) in ransom money to release two ships.

They are believed to have been paid a record $9.5m (£5.8m) for Samho Dream, a South Korean oil tanker, and nearly $2.8m (£1.7m) for the Golden Blessing, a Singaporean flagged ship.

"We are now counting our cash," a pirate who gave his name as Hussein told Reuters news agency. "Soon we shall get down from the ship."

All crew are believed to be unharmed.

Read more ....

My Comment: This will only continue the cycle of piracy and even greater ransom demands. A line in the sand has to be drawn .... but at present .... there is no one there to draw it.

Update: Reading stories like this one does not give me encouragement that Somali piracy will one day stop.

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