Nine Suspected Pirates Transferred To Seychelles by Dutch Warship
Original Sources: eunavfor/Seychelles Nation
EU Naval Force frigate HNLMS De Ruyter transferred nine suspected pirates to the Seychelles authorities for prosecution 25 Feb.
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EU Dutch Warship Transfers Suspect Pirates to Seychelles. Photo: enunavfor
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The transfers happened after HNLMS De Ruyter, who was conducting counter piracy patrols, stopped two skiffs on 19 February 120 nautical miles off the Somali Coast and apprehended nine suspected pirates on board.
During the operation, helicopters from both HNLMS De Ruyter and EU Naval Force flagship ESPS Mendez Nunez, together with the Spanish EU NAVFOR Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance Aircraft (MPRA), were able to locate the two skiffs and in a combined effort, stop them in the water approximately 200 nautical miles north east of Eyl. The nine men were then held on board HNLMS De Ruyter for further investigations and evidence collection in order to fully assess the possibility of prosecution. The two attack skiffs were also seized.
Today, after the Republic of the Seychelles agreed to take the nine suspected pirates for prosecution, De Ruyter, who is currently alongside Port Victoria, transferred the men to the Seychelles’ Authorities.
Speaking about the second successful transfer of suspected pirates by the EU Naval Force within the past 5 weeks, the Operation Commander of the European Union Naval Force Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant said “I welcome the decision of the Republic of the Seychelles to once again prosecute those suspected of attacking ships at sea. The Seychelles are a steadfast partner of the EU, determined and committed in the fight against piracy. Once more we have sent a clear message to pirates that the EU Naval Force will always seek, whenever possible, a legal finish”.
The first transfer in 2013 was on 25 January, when twelve suspect pirates were transferred to Mauritius for prosecution.
Prior to the handing over of the suspected pirates, members of the local and international press were briefed on the work of the EU NAVFOR and the piracy attack.
Present were Minister for Home Affairs and Transport Joel Morgan, British Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Alistair Burt, British Ambassador Lindsay Skoll, French Ambassador Geneviève Iancu and members of EU NAVFOR (see pic above).
Rear Admiral Bob Tarrant, the Operational Commander of EU NAVFOR said good cooperation exists between the EU NAVFOR and the Seychelles government.
He added that the presence of the nine suspected pirates shows that piracy activities are still going on and the work of the EU Naval Force is still vital.
Speaking to the media, Mr Morgan said Seychelles will keep sending a clear message to Somalia pirates that it will continue to fight against piracy activities and that they do not escape punishment.
He added that there are about 80 suspected pirates in prison here and soon another 25 of them will be transferred back to Somalia.
Mr Morgan is calling on the international community to help speed up the transfer process.
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