
Monday January 13, 2025

Ali Ahmed Ali Shirwa, the accountant linked to the hijacking of the MV Abdullah, following his arrest in Gaalkacyo, Puntland. (Photo courtesy of Puntland Police Command)
Galkayo (HOL) — Authorities in Puntland have arrested Ali Ahmed Ali Shirwa, the accountant believed to have managed finances for the group that hijacked the MV Abdullah, a Bangladeshi cargo ship seized in March 2024. The vessel and its 23 crew members were held hostage for over a month in one of the most high-profile piracy cases in recent years.
Shirwa, 39, was captured during an operation in Gaalkacyo, the regional capital of Mudug. According to Puntland authorities, he managed the finances of the hijackers, a critical role in the group's operation. The arrest comes months after the ship was released following a $5 million ransom payment.
"This is a big win in our fight against piracy," said Mudug Police Commander Mahamoud Abdihakim Yusuf. "We're determined to break these networks and keep our waters safe."
The MV Abdullah, a Bangladesh-flagged bulk carrier transporting 55,000 tonnes of coal from Mozambique to the UAE, was