ABDUCTION OF YEMENI FISHING VESSEL CONFIRMED
International Desk
November 30, 2009
As reported by the Yemeni coastguard and pirate sources from Eyl at the beginning of the month a Yemeni fishing vessel, which had armed guards on board and killed one Somali while another Somali was injured, was impounded near Ras Hafun. The vessel has now been taken to Garacad and its identity could be established, as marine monitors working with ECOTERRA Intl. reported. The vessel carries the name SHAXAR in Arabic writing and has a crew of 4 Yemeni as well as 6 Indian sailors. It must have been seized on its way back to Yemen, because it is fully loaded with illegal charcoal and fish. Charcoal export from Somalia has been banned since long and since April this year all fishing licenses for foreign vessels were withdrawn, because of fraudulent organized crime involving even offices in London, which sold forged and illegal fishing licenses. Yemeni and Indian diplomatic contacts have been informed.