DUBAI // A US prosecutor said the arrest and prosecution of pirate kingpins in Somalia would be the true measure of success in combating piracy.
“We have to be proactive and one of the ways is to cut the head off that snake, to rip those networks and put these men behind bars,” said Alamdar Hamdani, deputy chief, counterterrorism section, US department of justice. “Governments all over the world are looking to bring pirate kingpins to justice ... We need increased cooperation in the region to get the bad guys to justice.
“There is no kingpin in custody yet in Somalia,” he said. “Pirate kingpins are getting away with what they are doing, they are investing in other businesses in Somalia to make more money.”
Top Somali pirate Mohamed Garfanji was arrested in Mogadishu in August but released in September. In January another pirate leader, Mohamed Hassan, announced his retirement. Both men were involved in ship hijackings and hostage takings.
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COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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