Puntland armed Forces Seized a Boat Packed with Weapons on Shores of Gulf of Aden Meant for Al-Shabaab

 

Puntland Security Forces (PSF) successfully seized a boat packed with assortment of weapons on the shores of the Gulf of Aden in the city of Bosasso, Puntland region, Somalia.

Smugglers doing business with Al-Shabaab using small boats have been sneaking weapons into Puntland and finally landing into the hands of the Al-Qaeda aligned Al-Shabaab.  In recent months, the coastal areas in Puntland, northeastern Somalia has witnessed a surge in the smuggling of illegal weapons from war-torn Yemen.

At least two boats packed with weapons were sighted on the shores along Bandar-Bayla coast in Karkaar. Acting on intelligence from locals, PSF were able to swiftly seize the two boats and arrested 19 sailors on board, three of whom were foreigners and 16 Somalis.

Puntland Maritime Police Force [PMPF] confirmed of the confiscation of weapons including AK-47s. Its unfortunate some of the weapons might have been looted by the locals as the authorities. The uncontrolled purchase of firearms has been a major boost for Al-Shabaab in Somalia.

 Authorities further noted that the boats were carrying the weapons to the Al-Shabaab-controlled coastal town of Harar-Dhere in the Mudug region, central Somalia. The reports of Al-Shabaab getting weapons from Yemen have been in the public domain for a long. Those arrested to be probed on aiding the Al-Shabaab militant group acquire the illicit weapons.