Ransom Paid

Somali pirates received a ransom of US$7 million for the release of two Spanish hostages held for four-and-a-half months, a pirate claims.

The payment was dropped by helicopter. “The ransom is the biggest I’ve ever heard of for the release of just two hostages,” said one pirate.

The Spaniards were the only westerners aboard a Mozambican fishing vessel, “Vega5” seized at the end of December. The vessel was subsequently released, but the hostages were moved ashore.