INS Sunayna seizes illegal arms from fishing boat off Somalia coast

INS Sunayna has been deployed on anti-piracy patrol in the Gulf of Aden since October 6.

Indian warship Sunayna on Thursday seized illegal arms and ammunition from a fishing vessel 20 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia, the world’s most dangerous waters for commercial shipping and notorious for piracy-related activities.

Fishermen stand on the Indian Ocean beach at dusk in the former pirate village of Eyl, in Somalia's semiautonomous northeastern state of Puntland. (AP File photo)

A navy spokesperson said five Kalashnikov rifles and 471 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the boat during a search and seizure operation. “The fishing vessel later was allowed to leave after confiscating the arms and ammunition,” said the navy spokesperson. 

The arms and ammunition were confiscated to prevent its use for piracy-related activities, the spokesperson said.

INS Sunayna, an offshore patrol vessel, has been deployed for anti-piracy patrols in the Gulf of Aden since October 6, 2018.

The same warship had seized six AK-47s and one Light Machine Gun in previous search operations conducted on December 7 and November 9.

After kicking off anti-piracy patrols on October 23, 2008, a total of 70 Indian warships have so far been involved in carrying out round-the-clock surveillance of the piracy-infested waters, according to the navy’s figures.