Puntland authority announced on Monday the release of a cargo ship that was previously detained off the coast of Bareeda district. Authorities confirmed the decision came after it was verified the ship was not transporting any prohibited or illegal materials.
The vessel, which had been held illegally for several days, had drawn public and international attention following reports of suspicious maritime activity in the area. Puntland police stated the release followed a detailed inspection and verification process involving maritime security units and port authorities.
“There was no illegal cargo on board. After conducting a full investigation, the ship was cleared and allowed to proceed,” a Puntland police spokesperson told reporters in Bosaso.
Meanwhile, the Puntland authorities confirmed that a second ship, intercepted recently in the same waters, was found to be carrying unauthorized weapons. The vessel remains in custody under tight security while investigations continue.
“The ship is under the control of Puntland security forces,” the spokesperson added. “We have launched a full and thorough investigation into the matter. At this stage, no further information will be disclosed until the investigation concludes.”
The seizure of the second ship comes amid rising concerns about the smuggling of arms and increased maritime insecurity along the Somali coast. Local and international stakeholders have expressed alarm over the potential link between arms trafficking and ongoing political tensions in the region.
The identity of the owners of the second ship, its intended destination, and the source of the weapons have not been made public. Analysts say the incident could strain relations between Puntland and external actors, especially if foreign-flagged vessels are found to be complicit in arms transfers.
Regional observers are closely monitoring developments as Puntland security agencies continue their investigation. The Puntland administration has in recent months taken a more assertive approach to controlling its coastline amid accusations of foreign interference and unregulated shipments arriving at ports outside the oversight of the Federal Government of Somalia.
The Somali Maritime Authority and the Ministry of Ports and Marine Transport at the federal level have not yet issued a statement regarding the two incidents. However, security sources in Mogadishu confirmed that federal authorities are seeking clarification about the seizures and have called for cooperation between regional and federal agencies in line with maritime laws.
International shipping firms have been advised to exercise increased caution when entering Somali waters, particularly around Bari and Sanaag regions, where several illegal enforcement operations have taken place in recent weeks.
More updates are expected once the investigation into the seized weapons shipment concludes.
