The Winnipeg Intervenes (Again), Six Pirates… Freed

(B2) The Canadian ship member of the NATO anti-piracy force, deployed in the Gulf of Aden, the Winnipeg intervened - again (after thejoint intervention with the Maestrale) - against pirates, we learn from the Canadian channel CBC - which has one of its journalists on board. Having spotted two suspicious boats, the Sea King helicopter chased them, about 80 kms from Yemen. Having dispatched a survey boat, the Canadian sailors were able to seize aboard the first skiff several weapons (the classic AK-47 and RPG rocket launcher, as well as an M16 rifle...). The pirates tried to climb overboard an aluminum ladder but it was recovered.
About an hour later, a second skiff with other weapons was seized. In all, six pirate suspects were arrested, questioned... and released! No act of ship hijacking having been proven, international law does not apply, we explain on the Canadian side. Above all, Canada, like NATO, has no legal means of handing over to neighboring authorities, having negotiated no agreement of the type of those negotiated by Atalanta or the United States with Kenya.

(photo: Canadian Navy - April 2009)

(NGV)