Dutch disarm Somali pirates
2010-03-17 19:09
The Hague - Dutch marines disarmed 13 suspected Somali pirates at sea on Wednesday after nabbing nine earlier this week, the defence ministry said.
The Dutch frigate Tromp intercepted the pirates on a mother ship and two smaller attack boats about 400km southwest of the Seychelles archipelago.
"We only found several guns and some ammunition because the pirates threw some guns overboard when they were intercepted," ministry spokesperson Marloes Visser said.
"The 13 detained people were put on the mother ship with enough fuel, food and water to reach the Seychelles in accordance with EU rules," the defence ministry said in a statement.
The attack boats were destroyed and the arms, ammunition and ladders used to board other ships were seized.
Dutch marines already detained and disarmed nine suspected pirates off the Somali coast on Sunday and on Tuesday.
The Netherlands is taking part in an EU anti-piracy mission off the Somali coast.
- SAPA