20100411
PRESS TV

The European Union anti-piracy naval force says Somali pirates have successfully boarded another cargo ship in the Indian Ocean near the Seychelles.

The mission said Sunday that the number or the nationality of the crew members onboard the hijacked vessel, the Rak Afrikana, was not yet known.

The vessel, bearing the St. Vincent and Grenadines flag, is now anchored 520 nautical kilometers (280 miles) west of the island nation of Seychelles, an area around which suspected Somali pirates have broadened their lucrative operations.

No information was available about the destination or the nature of the ship's cargo.

Despite the growing International naval presence in the area, pirates continue to cash in on the enterprise with millions of dollars in ransom money.

While some of their comrades have been arrested, many of the sea bandits have managed to evade patrolling frigates to launch attacks on trade ships in one the world's busiest commerce routes.