USS Vella Gulf captures suspected pirates

NORFOLK, Va. - For the second day in a row, a Norfolk-based ship captured suspected pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The guided missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf intercepted and caught nine suspected pirates Thursday.

Wednesday, the Navy seized seven other suspected pirates off the coast of Somalia.

Sixteen suspected pirates are now onboard the Virginia based USS Vella Gulf - all of it happening in less than 36 hours. 21st century pirates off the coast of Africa have grown to be an epidemic and the US Navy has now issued a full-on hunt to bring them down - and they're not alone.

As Navy boats from the Virginia based USS Vella Gulf quickly approached, seven suspected pirates put their arms in the air and surrendered. Moments later, they were taken into custody.

Admiral Terry McKnight admits, hunting pirates in the Gulf of Aden isn't easy, but his strategy seems to be working.

"It's very hard...because we're out here in 1.1 million square miles of
water, and the skiffs are very small," McKnight explained.

Last year Somali pirates staged 120 attacks on cargo ships and hijacked 41, raking in a record $20 million in ransom.

The captured pirates attempted to hijack a cargo ship, but a distress call put Vella Gulf Sailors into quick action and mintues later, Navy boats surrounded a skiff full of suspected pirates and an arsenal of weapons.

"We found some RPGs and pistols and AK 47s."

he pirates will be held in this makeshift holding pen aboard ship before being sent to Kenya for prosecution.

"It was picture perfect, I mean it was safe, it was just a good operation
and everything fell into place for us."

During the first incident, McKnight was on the radio with a nearby Russian destroyer when suddenly the radio crackled with a distress call.

"There's two boats, not one only, there's two boats. Looks like pirate
boats."

The crew of the Vella Gulf sprung into action. Within minutes, Vella Gulf's captain turned to a most unlikely ally - the Russians. But without hesitation, the Russians responded.

In close coordination, Russian and American crews hovered over the suspected pirates, who it turns out were only innocent fisherman.

Needless to say, it was a busy week fo the Virginia-based Vella Gulf. Nine other suspected pirates were taken into custody Thursday.

The American's and Russian's are NOT alone out there -- a new strategy has 20 warships from 14 countries patrolling off the coast of Africa.