MOSCOW, February 13 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Pyotr
Veliky missile cruiser has detained three pirate vessels off
the coast of Somalia, a Russian Navy spokesman said on Friday.
"Two speedboats and a large parent ship were detained with 10
Somali pirates on board," Capt. 1st Rank Igor Dygalo said.
The incident occurred on Thursday near Yemen's Sokotra
Island when a Pyotr Veliky-based helicopter spotted two
speedboats moving in the direction of a fishing boat under the
Iranian flag. Upon spotting the helicopter, the people on board
the speedboats began hurling arms overboard.
The helicopter crew continued surveillance until the Pyotr
Veliky arrived at the scene.
Weapons, including assault rifles and grenade launchers,
as well as drugs and a large amount of cash were discovered on
board the vessels. "The detainees were in a state of narcotic
intoxication," Dygalo said.
He also said investigators were currently questioning the
detainees.
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