Puntland Statemaritime force seizes boat with explosives off Eyl, arrests seven
GAROWE, Somalia — The Puntland State Maritime Police Force on Saturday intercepted a boat off the coast of Eyl district carrying explosives and materials used to manufacture improvised explosive devices, detaining seven people, according to authorities.
- Advertisement -
Preliminary reports indicated the seized cargo included various chemical substances commonly used in the production of high-impact explosives. The vessel was crewed by two Yemeni nationals and five Somalis, all of whom are in PMPF custody as an investigation gets underway into the origin of the cargo, its intended destination and who was responsible for the shipment.
The seizure comes amid intensified counterterrorism operations by Puntland State authorities. In recent days, officials announced security forces had destroyed more than 100 Islamic State facilities in the Al-Calmiskaad mountains, describing them as bases and strategic operational sites used by the group.
Puntland State Police Chief Gen. Mumin Abdi Shire said the operations in the rugged range dismantled weapons stockpiles and explosives factories that ISIS used to plan and carry out attacks against Puntland State’s security forces. Saturday’s maritime interception adds a coastal dimension to the region’s push to disrupt the logistics that sustain militant activity.
Authorities did not immediately release details on the boat’s ownership, recent ports of call or declared cargo. Investigators are expected to conduct forensic analysis of the confiscated materials as they work to map the supply chain and determine whether the shipment was part of a broader network.
The incident follows a recent report by the West Point Institute in the United States that found evidence suggesting cooperation between Yemen’s Houthi movement and ISIS in Somalia. According to the report, ISIS militants have received training from the Houthis in intelligence gathering, drone operations and explosives techniques. The report did not specify individual shipments or routes, but it underscored concerns about cross-border knowledge transfer and the risk of more sophisticated attacks.
Puntland State, a semiautonomous region in northeastern Somalia, has faced a persistent threat from ISIS and al-Shabab cells seeking footholds in both coastal towns and mountainous hideouts. The PMPF, established to counter piracy and maritime crime, has in recent years played an expanded role in counterterrorism along the Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden corridor.
No further details were immediately available late Saturday. Authorities said updates would follow as the investigation progresses and as security forces continue operations targeting militant infrastructure on land and at sea.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
