Crime Pays...VERY well!!

[Dryden]

Somalian entreprenuers are at it again. And business is good.

Somali Pirates Charge for Expenses While Holding Ship for Ransom

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

NAIROBI, Kenya — A Somali governor says no ransom was paid for the release of an Italian tug boat that pirates held for four months.
But Sanag Governor Mohamed Said Nur told The Associated Press on Tuesday that the pirates were paid $270,000 for food and other supplies used to sustain the 16-member crew of the Buccaneer since April. The vessel was anchored off the coast of Sanag.
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini has said no ransom was paid for the vessel's release on Sunday.
Somali pirates are normally reimbursed for any expenses they incur as well as receiving a ransom for holding a ship. It is rare for them to accept payment for their expenses only.
Somali pirates receive an estimated ransom of up to $2 million a vessel.




$270,000 for food....? How much can a crew of 16 eat?????

 

[CountryBoy19]

$270,000 for food....? How much can a crew of 16 eat?????

No kidding? Especially in Africa... I didn't think the US dollar has slipped THAT much.

 

[XMil]

Is that what it was like here before Wal Mart?

 

[MyGlockRocks19]

Better question...why are pirates still being allowed to operate off the coast of Somalia?

 

[CountryBoy19]

Better question...why are pirates still being allowed to operate off the coast of Somalia?

Because it only matters when the media airs it and then people get in an uproar about doing something. Soon after, they'll forget about it and bury their heads in the sand again.

 

[Wabatuckian]

I can't help but think that a few well-placed torpedoes or small air-to-surface missiles would solve a lot of the problem...

Maybe even a good strafing with 20mm cannon and .50 cal...

Josh <><

 

[2ADMNLOVER]

I'm thinking being a pirate is lucrative , 2 mil + expenses . I could make do with that .

 

[matthock]

Keep in mind that due to the general lawlessness there, many people there are lucky to be living at even a subsistence level. Yeah, piracy might be dangerous - they stand a decent chance at dying at sea in their dinky little boats before they even get to the target - but for many of them, they see the small chance of hitting it rich as better than the alternative. I don't think killing the pirates will have much of an effect... but, neither will trying to provide aid to the people in question, because someone will just steal it. Only way I could see things changing is if something happened that enabled the current utterly impotent government to be able to assert some manner of rule of law and get the country operating properly again.