6 Indians on board hijacked cargo ship carrying Turkish weapons off Somalia's coast

Times of India Published Aug 20, 2026 Reviewed Aug 21, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors

Six Indians were among the 10-member crew of the M/V LUTUF, a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship hijacked by pirates off Somalia’s Puntland coast.

6 · Indians Somali official

The M/V LUTUF was seized on Monday about 3.5 nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district.

3.5 nautical miles · seizure distance Somali official

The M/V LUTUF is owned by Polar Movement Shipping.

Somali official

The M/V LUTUF was carrying Turkish weapons bound for a military training facility in Mogadishu, along with communications and satellite equipment.

Somali official

The crew of the M/V LUTUF comprised six Indian nationals, one Turkish national, one Georgian, and two Serbian security guards.

6 · Indian nationals1 · Turkish national1 · Georgian2 · Serbian security guards Somali official

Eight pirates were believed to have seized the M/V LUTUF.

8 · pirates Somali official

The pirates believed to have seized the M/V LUTUF were allegedly linked to a group previously involved in the hijacking of the M/V Sward on April 26.

Somali official

Two Turkish-owned vessels later approached the hijacked M/V LUTUF, while Turkish helicopters and drones monitored the area.

2 · Turkish-owned vessels Somali official

A small boat carrying two men approached the M/V LUTUF on Tuesday and delivered khat.

2 · men on boat Somali official

An airstrike followed after the small boat returned to shore, killing four men and injuring two others.

4 · men killed2 · men injured Somali official

Six Indians were among the 10-member crew of a Cameroon-flagged cargo ship hijacked by pirates off Somalia’s Puntland coast earlier this week, news agency AP reported citing a Somali official on Thursday.The M/V LUTUF was seized on Monday about 3.5 nautical miles off Marraya in Puntland’s Eyl district and was later taken towards the Nugaal coast, the official said.The vessel, owned by Polar Movement Shipping, was carrying Turkish weapons bound for a military training facility in Mogadishu, along with communications and satellite equipment.

Its crew comprised six Indian nationals, one Turkish national, one Georgian and two Serbian security guards.The official said eight pirates were believed to have seized the vessel. They were allegedly linked to a group previously involved in the hijacking of the M/V Sward on April 26.Two Turkish-owned vessels later approached the hijacked ship, while Turkish helicopters and drones monitored the area, the official said.

A small boat carrying two men also approached the vessel on Tuesday and delivered khat, a stimulant commonly chewed in Somalia.The official said an airstrike followed after the boat returned to shore, killing four men and injuring two others. The circumstances of the strike, including who carried it out and whether those killed were involved in the hijacking, could not be independently verified by the news agency.Catch the latest World News and Live updates.

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