On 21 April, EU NAVFOR released 18 suspected pirates that had been detained by the EU NAVFOR Finnish warship FNS POHJANMAA since the 6 April. They were released after requests to a number of states, who were considered to have an interest in the case, proved to be unsuccessful. The States either decided not to prosecute or could not provide an intent to prosecute within the required timescale.
The suspected pirates were detained after allegedly attacking the Singapore-flagged vessel MV PACIFIC OPAL on 5 April 2011. They were returned to Somalia on the morning of 21 April.