Soggy Somali Pirate and cash washes ashore

by TDH | January 12, 2009 at 01:50 pm

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Just days after the $3 million ransom payment and subsequent release of the Saudi supertanker held ransom by Somali pirates, the body of one of the newly wealthy Somalians has been recovered, loot in tow. The body of the pirate was apparently accompanied by $153 000 cash,

A relative of the drowned pirate told the BBC the family was now trying to dry out the recovered money.

The pirates' boat capsized when they were hit by rough seas as they were heading back to their homes in central Somalia, the leader of the pirates told AFP.

After receiving their ransom (reportedly via parachute drop) five of the pirates disembarked the ship only to be confronted by stormy weather.

Three pirates managed to survive, but lost their share of the ransom when swimming to shore, reports said.

The drowned pirate was apparently the only one who managed to hold on to his share of the ransom.

Others apparently survived, but in attempting to reach the shore, lost their share of the ransom.

The supertanker was carrying a reported $100 million in crude oil. Two months, $3 million in ransom lost, and one stormy trip home: a largely blunderous venture.

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