Wikileaks
Publisher:
Author: DefenceWeb.co.za
10 Aug 2011
Italy paid US$18 million for release of pirated tug Buccaneer
According to a diplomatic cable released by Wikileaks, the release of the pirated Italian flagged tug Buccaneer may have been due to the payment of US$18.5 million to the Somali transitional government. This would make it the biggest ransom payment so far paid to Somali pirates, albeit indirectly.