Pirates free captured ship bound for Somalia after $15K in ‘expenses’ paid

Pirates free hijacked ship bound for Somali port

MOGADISHU, Somalia — A Somali businessman says a ship hijacked by pirates off East Africa two weeks ago has been released.

Ali Dheere, the chairman of a group of traders in Mogadishu, says the al-Mizan has arrived in Somalia’s capital.

The Panama-flagged, United Arab Emirates-owned cargo ship was carrying electronics, food and other goods. The 18-member crew were all in good condition.

Dheere refused to say whether a ransom had been paid, but a self-proclaimed pirate named Abdi Nor tells The Associated Press that pirates did not demand a ransom since the ship was bound for Mogadishu and carried goods owned by Somalis.

The pirates asked for and received $15,000 for “expenses.”