Tuesday July 22, 2025
Garowe (HOL) — Puntland police have cleared a suspicious vessel that recently docked off the coast of Bareeda, saying a full inspection revealed no evidence of illegal activity. The development comes as authorities continue investigating a separate arms-laden ship seized over the weekend that has intensified regional security concerns.
The ship was initially flagged by local authorities following its arrival in the Ras Caseyr region, prompting a maritime security operation by Puntland police.
In a statement issued by the Puntland Police Command, authorities confirmed that the vessel underwent a thorough inspection and was found to be in full compliance with the law. As no illegal activity was detected, it was peacefully cleared to depart.
While police did not explicitly link the cleared vessel to the earlier seizure, officials confirmed that a broader investigation is underway involving a Comoros-flagged ship named Sea World, which was intercepted by the Puntland Maritime Police Force (PMPF) on July 18 near Bareeda.
According to Puntland authorities, the ship had anchored illegally for two days near a known Islamic State conflict zone in the Bari region, raising immediate security concerns.
Raas Caseyr regional police commander Col. Mahad Ali Carcar urged residents to disregard false information circulating on social media, warning that some individuals were spreading rumours to exploit public fears.
“People are trying to cause panic by encouraging civilians to head out to sea under false pretenses,” Col. Carcar said. “We need the public to work with us and remain alert.”
The Somali federal government has not commented on the interception, which has reignited disputes between Mogadishu and Puntland over maritime control. Puntland argues it has the right to secure its coastline against terrorism and smuggling, while federal officials insist national waters fall under central jurisdiction.
Relations between the regional and federal government have grown increasingly strained since May 2024, when Puntland declared it would no longer cooperate with federal security deployments without prior consultation, citing concerns about unilateral decisions and lack of transparency.
The Sea World remains docked at the Port of Bosaso while a formal criminal investigation continues.