A suspected pirate who claimed to be a kingpin of a gang of pirates and arms runners and who was arrested alongside others recently, has opened up on the modus operandi of his gang.
The suspect; Samuel Michael whose arrest was scooped recently by Shipping Position Daily has confessed to security agents that the gang specialized in trafficking arms and hijacking Nigeria-bound cargo.
A suspected pirate who claimed to be a kingpin of a gang of pirates and arms runners and who was arrested alongside others recently, has opened up on the modus operandi of his gang.
The suspect; Samuel Michael whose arrest was scooped recently by Shipping Position Daily has confessed to security agents that the gang specialized in trafficking arms and hijacking Nigeria-bound cargo.
Michael, who was arrested recently aboard MV Naomi Corcel on Badagry waters, and whose story was reported exclusively by Shipping Position Daily on November 8, 2012 confirmed that the gang usually hires a ship to carry out its act.
Speaking specifically on the operations aboard MV Naomi Corcel which led to the recent arrest, Michael disclosed that the ship was hired by the gang in Cameroun for six months and named one accomplice whom he simply identified as Charles as the facilitator.
"The vessel anchors at Calabar port from where we usually take off and move down to Badagry, Lagos State, where we have a depot of sorts. We offload our cache of arms at Badagry and return to the water for operation. It is through Badagry that arms enter Nigeria.
"There are other locations across the country where the arms are kept. What I am saying is that only about 20 per cent of the arms stay in Lagos while others are scattered in different locations across the country, especially the Niger-Delta."
He confirmed that he had been a part of many successful operations in the past, but lamented that he was on his way to Cotonou in Benin Republic, but the gang was arrested enroute.
Confirming the connection between the arrest and MV Naomi Morcel, the suspect said: "I was apprehended on October 13, 2012, in a vessel named Naomi Morcel which we wanted to use to hijack a vessel carrying AGO on the high sea. The person who chartered the vessel is one Mr. Charles.
"When we were apprehended by security personnel some ammunition and gallons of petrol were found on board the vessel. Apart from our sponsor, Charles and Ademola other known buyers of the stolen products are Ebere, IK and Abedo."
According to him, they gang had a misfortune which led to their arrest when MV Naomi Morcel developed engine fault
The technician, who reportedly brought a power generator to the spot where the ship was stuck, however became suspicious of the group when he saw traces of hard drugs on board.
"The person became suspicious, given the fact that the gang members were at first reluctant in allowing him into the vessel. They eventually allowed him because they were in dire need of his service at that point in time.
"So, when the person saw the traces of cocaine inside the vessel, he kept quiet and subsequently stumbled on some live cartridges. Because of the fear that they might harm him and throw him into the sea, he did not show sign of shock.
"But he tricked them that the generator could not function until he returned to Apapa to bring a certain component. This was what helped him out of the place. By the time he got to Apapa, he contacted somebody who alerted them.’
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