| Dear Readers,
A very pirate-themed week of news this time around. We begin with confirmation from EUNAVFOR that the MT Sun Leopard was subject to a pirate attack in the Somali Basin on February 23rd, as we reported previously. While concerns have been raised for months about vessel's sailing too close to Somalia, this incident occurred around 160nm off the coast, underlining the pirates' reach and operating area.
Kenya, meanwhile, is mulling over a full Coast Guard, something which would improve its maritime security no end.
In Southeast Asia, investigations continue into an attack on a trawler. The suspicion is that Abu Sayyaf terrorists were behind the incident. In Malaysia, the hunt is on for two of the pirates who hijacked the MT MGT 1 on September 6th, 2017. They've been spotted in the region and the authorities are on the case.
In West Africa, another attack has occurred off Benin. This time, pirates tried to take the ST Marseille but were fought off. In the ensuing gunfight, two Benin Navy guards were shot and wounded. It doesn't look like things are improving much in the Gulf of Guinea for seafarers.
Back in Europe, the Wall Street Journal reports on the latest drug channel in to Europe, via the port of Antwerp. We've seen a number of alerts from Flag states in recent weeks regarding drug cartels attaching containers to ship's hulls. Now we know where they're trying to send them…
Regards,
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