MOGADISHU, Somalia — A Somali official has reported that pirates who seized a Chinese-owned fishing vessel with a crew of 18 off Somalia’s northeastern coastline last month are seeking a ransom of $10 million.

These hijackers have taken to social media to post images of the captured crew, who were shown surrounded by armed individuals on the vessel’s deck.

The fishing boat was captured in late November and brought to the Xaafuun district in Puntland, a region enjoying a semi-autonomous status in Somalia. Currently, both the vessel and its crew are being held there, reportedly with the involvement of security personnel from the ship who allied with local armed men.

A government official indicated that the confiscated fishing vessel was granted a fishing license by the Puntland authorities in 2020; however, this license has since expired.

The official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the situation, refrained from providing further details regarding the ransom.

In response to the incident, the European Union’s anti-piracy naval operation, Eunavfor Atalanta, has categorized the event as an act of “robbery at sea.”

This piracy incident highlights the ongoing difficulties concerning maritime security within Somali waters. Somalia has struggled with piracy for many years, peaking in 2011 when the United Nations recorded over 160 attacks in the region.

Nevertheless, piracy incidents have significantly reduced since that peak, thanks in large part to the ongoing presence and efforts of American and allied naval forces patrolling international waters.