Mogadishu, April 26: The Spanish navy has captured eight suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia as part of the European anti-piracy mission in the area.
The Spanish frigate Victoria captured a whaleboat and various skiffs on Sunday, on which arms and other materials suitable for use in pirate attacks were discovered, the Spanish Defense Ministry said.
The pirates were arrested as part of the “Operation Atlanta” that has dismantled 21 rings involving 250 criminals and destroyed 30 skiffs as well as 11 mother ships so far, the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.
Pirates have stepped up attacks on vessels in the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden in recent months, making tens of millions of dollars in ransom, despite presence of naval vessels from different countries.
In a different note on Sunday, the Spanish Defense Ministry declared that European defense ministries have agreed to extend their mission in the area beyond 2010.
——-Agencies