Pirates Hijack Cargo Ship Carrying Turkish Military Equipment Off Somalia

The Cameroon-flagged cargo vessel Lutuf has been released after being hijacked off Somalia’s Puntland coast earlier this week. The vessel was seized about 3.5 nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district and was subsequently taken toward the Nugaal coast, according to a Somali official. Owned by Polar Movement Shipping, Lutuf was reportedly carrying Turkish weapons along with communications and satellite equipment. The vessel had 10 people on board, including six Indian nationals, one Turkish national, one Georgian and two Serbian security guards.