Puntland maritime forces have seized control of a commercial vessel that had been held by suspected Somali pirates off the coast of Puntland following a security operation conducted in the waters and coastal areas of Mudug region.
Officials from the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) confirmed that the vessel, identified as MTT-SIBU1, was recovered during an operation along the Mudug coastline. Security forces took control of the ship and secured all crew members who were on board.
The operation involved PMPF special units that have been conducting anti-piracy missions along Puntland’s coast in recent weeks.
According to security officials, one suspected pirate was killed during the operation, while 15 others were captured. Four of those detained reportedly sustained injuries.
The vessel, a tanker used to transport fuel and oil products, was sailing under the Eritrean flag before it was hijacked by suspected Somali pirates on August 20, 2026.
Reports indicate that the ship was seized approximately 136 nautical miles east of Al Mukalla, Yemen, while transiting through the region.
At the time of the hijacking, the vessel was carrying a crew of 20 people, most of whom were Indian nationals.
The recovery of the tanker marks a significant success for Puntland’s maritime security forces, which have intensified operations against piracy amid renewed concerns over pirate activity in waters off the Somali coast.
Puntland authorities have long viewed maritime security as a key priority due to the strategic importance of the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean shipping routes, which are among the busiest maritime corridors in the world.
Officials have not yet released further details regarding the condition of the crew or the next legal steps facing the captured suspects.
However, the operation is expected to be welcomed by regional and international maritime security partners working to combat piracy in the region.