By Abdullahi Salad - Reporter
BOSSASO, 16 October 2026 INTERPOL has advised Somali authorities on the forensic examination of the MT Honour 25, an oil tanker hijacked by pirates off the Puntland coast.
In a post on X, the international police organisation said its team briefed authorities ahead of the vessel's examination. The team gave guidance on how to package crime scene evidence and transport it securely to a laboratory, where fingerprints could potentially be extracted.
The work was part of a dedicated action week in Bossaso, during which 34 suspects linked to terrorism-related crimes were registered. INTERPOL described the registrations as a critical step in expanding the investigative intelligence available to police forces worldwide.
Working alongside the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) and Somali law enforcement, an INTERPOL fingerprint expert delivered hands-on training on next-generation biometric devices. National officers then made field visits to two detention facilities.
Related articles
The MT Honour 25, a Palau-flagged tanker, was seized by pirates off Somalia on April 21 with 17 crew members on board. The vessel was carrying 18,500 barrels of oil. The crew included 10 Pakistanis, four Indonesians, one Indian, one Sri Lankan and one person from Myanmar.
At the end of September, Puntland security forces retook the vessel. Authorities said pirates killed five crew members before the rescue. According to the Puntland Maritime Police Force, the victims were three Pakistanis, one Myanmar national and one Indian.
Sixteen suspected pirates were detained following the operation, and at least 11 others escaped and remain at large.
The deaths appear to be the first at the hands of Somali pirates in more than a decade. The hijacking came amid a resurgence of piracy that experts have partly linked to the effects of the Iran war, including higher oil prices that make tankers more attractive targets. Officials say at least 15 attacks have been reported off Somalia since April.