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BY MADISON MACK

ANCHOR AUSTIN KIM

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Six foreigners trying to smuggle money into Somalia have been arrested by the government. The amount they were attempting to sneak in? A $3.6 million ransom note to pay off pirates holding hijacked ships. This incident marks the first time in two decades the Somali government has sentenced foreigners. Sky News explains what happened after the group's plane landed.

“They were immediately arrested and charged with money smuggling and within a matter of days, told to get a lawyer and put on trial.”

“They were found guilty, two British nationals sentenced to 15 years, another British national ten years for their part in money smuggling and there was an American national and Kenyan man aboard that plane too. Now it has opened up a whole host of questions about the problems that Somalia is facing with these pirates.”


According to the BBC -- this is the first time Westerners have been convicted for trying to deliver a ransom fee to pirates.

It’s illegal to pay pirate ransoms in Somalia, but reports say the practice is widespread and commonplace. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime estimates Somali pirates received $110 million last year.

So, is the Somali government really trying to crack down on the practice ---or was this just a money grab? Al Jazeera spoke to a Maritime security expert who says its unclear what message the government is trying to send.   

“Its quite confusing in that currently the only way to get seaman and crew that are caught by pirates out of captivity is to pay a ransom. The practice unfortunately has to take place to safe guard the security of those intervals. This particular incident … does come as somewhat of a surprise and it does make you wonder.”

But that confusion may stem from the structure of Somalia itself -- or lack thereof.

“Somalia's transitional federal government, which controls only part of the country, opposes ransom payments, believing that it fuels piracy. The country has lacked a functioning central government since 1991.”

The European Union Naval Force Somalia estimates pirates are currently holding 464 hostages and at least 21 vessels.
 

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