Puntland Marine and Police Force (PMPF) have on Sunday captured eleven pirate suspects in Hafun district after the marine forces along with some government officials entered the coastal town of Hafun on Saturday to hunt down pirates.

Among the seven suspects was a well-known pirateMohamed Mohamud Mohamed Hassan “Dhafoor” who is wanted by Puntland authorities for having connections with a pirate gang that kidnapped several commercial vessels and the Danish family last year.

He was also accused of having close ties with a well-known pirate leader, Isse Yulux and his gang in Hafun peninsula of Karkar region, the apprehended eleven were taken to Bosaso.

The operation in Hafun was led by PMPF Commander Colonel Abdirizaq Dirie Farah, Puntland Police Commissioner, Mohamed Said Jaqanaf and Puntland Security Minister, Khalif Isse Mudan

Puntland has intensified its operations to hunt down pirate gangs in its territory and has detained hundreds of pirates so far.