EU NAVFOR Netherlands warship disrupts Pirate Action Group

May 8th, 2010 - 5:10 am ICT by BNO News  

MOGADISHU, SOMALIA (BNO NEWS) – The Netherlands warship Johan de Witt intercepted and disrupted a Pirate Action group (PAG) in the Somalia Basin on Friday morning, the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia announced.

The EU NAVFOR Swedish Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected the PAG in the middle of the Somalia Basin. The EU NAVFOR Netherlands warship Johan de Witt was 30 nautical miles away from the reported position and proceeded to the spot.

Upon arrival, the HNLMS Johan de Witt found the PAG which consisted of two skiffs and one whaler with a total of eleven suspected pirates aboard. As the Johan de Witt was approaching, the suspects were appeared to be throwing their weapons overboard.

The Dutch marines stopped and boarded the mother ship and two skiffs and found evidence of piracy in the vessels. All eleven pirates were taken aboard Johan de Witt, as well as the three boats.

Piracy in this region continues to be a major issue but the EU NAVFOR Somalia monitors the situation via Operation ATLANTA which escorts merchant and humanitarian vessels navigating through the area.

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