US Coast Guard Seizes $22.5 Mln of Cocaine
The Cyclone-class patrol coastal ship USS Zephyr (PC 8), its embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) personnel and coalition forces intercepted an immense amount of contraband while on patrol conducting Operation Martillo in the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations April 19. Zephyr, along with Dutch Karel Doorman-class multi-purpose frigate HNLMS Van Amstel, pursued and boarded a small fishing vessel, called a panga, and interdicted 750 kilograms of cocaine with a total street value of $22.5 million. "Today's success was due to the high professionalism and cohesive integration of the Zephyr crew and USCG LEDET," said Lt. Cmdr. Cameron Ingram, Zephyr's commanding officer.
Eleven Pirates Convicted in the Seychelles
On October 2, 2013, eleven pirates were convicted in the Seychelles Supreme Court of committing acts of piracy and operating a pirate vessel from May 7-11, 2012. Their sentences ranged from 18 months to 16 years. The pirates had been apprehended by the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate, HNLMS Van Amstel, on May 11, 2012, after the warship’s Lynx helicopter sighted a suspicious fishing dhow towing two skiffs, 400 nautical miles off the Somali coast. When the warship’s boarding team approached the dhow…
Somali Pirates Jailed by Seychelles Court
11 pirates have been convicted in the Seychelles Supreme Court of committing acts of piracy and operating a pirate vessel between 7 – 11 May 2012. Their sentences ranged from 18 months to 16 years. The pirates had been apprehended by the Royal Netherlands Navy frigate, HNLMS Van Amstel, on 11 May 2012, after the warship’s Lynx helicopter sighted a suspicious fishing dhow towing 2 skiffs, 400 nautical miles off the Somali coast. When the warship’s boarding team approached the dhow, the Dutch Navy crew found 11 suspected pirates of Somali origin and a total of 17 hostages on board.
Dutch Warship Replenishes World Food Program Protection Ship
EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Dutch frigate Van Amstel rendezvoused at sea with World Food Programme (WFP) chartered ship MV Caroline Scan to re-supply the Dutch protection team onboard – known as an Autonomous Vessel Protection Detachment or AVPD . The Dutch AVPD, which consists of armed marines and a medical team, protects the humanitarian food of the WFP as it transits the waters off the Somali coast. The AVPD sails under the flag of the European Union counter piracy mission – Operation Atalanta.
Piracy – Seychelles to Prosecute Suspects
EU Naval Force welcomes decision by Seychelles Government to bring suspect Somali pirates before court The Republic of the Seychelles agreed to accept for prosecution 11 suspect pirates who were captured by EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) frigate HNLMS Van Amstel recently. The 11 suspect pirates had taken control of an Iranian dhow with 17 innocent Iranian fishermen onboard at the beginning of May and it is thought the dhow was probably related to an unsuccessful attack against the merchant ship MV Super Lady. 
The suspects are expected to be handed over to the Seychelles authorities in the coming days.
Piracy – Two More Warships Join Task Force
The counter-piracy taks force sent by the European Uniion to patrol the waters off the Horn of Africa, has been joined by two additional warships. The Dutch multi-purpose frigate HNLMS Van Amstel has arrived in the area, as well as the Spanish frigate ESPS Reina Sofia. Both ships have helicopters embarked that are capable of searching large areas of sea to look for suspect pirates. These warships bring the total EUNAVFOR strength up to 10 vessels in preparation for any increase in pirate activity following the end of the monsoon season.
