FBI: A Conversation With The FBI's Legal Attache In Nairobi

The FBI's web page offers an interview with the bureau's legal attache in Nairobi.

The FBI’s legal attaché, or legat, program places Bureau personnel in more than 60 countries around the world. Working primarily through U.S. Embassies, our employees serve at the pleasure of host country governments, and their core mission is to establish and maintain liaison with local law enforcement and security services. Such partnerships are critical in the fight against international terrorism, cyber crime, and a range of other criminal and intelligence matters.

FBI.gov recently sat down with Dennis Brady, the Bureau’s legal attaché in Nairobi, Kenya, to talk about our partnerships with the Kenyans and our work in that region of the world.  

Q: What are the key threats in Kenya that impact Americans and U.S. interests?

Brady: The terrorist organization al Shabaab has been the biggest threat we face. Members of that group use IEDs [improvised explosive devices] to carry out terrorist attacks. They are known to throw grenades into local buses and attack local police officers. They also have a history of kidnapping Americans in Somalia—an area that our legat office covers. Piracy in Somalia is also a continuing threat.

You can read the rest of the interview via the below link:

http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2014/january/a-conversation-with-our-legal-attache-in-nairobi-part-1

And you can read part two of the interview via the below link:

http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2014/january/a-conversation-with-our-legal-attache-in-nairobi-part-2/a-conversation-with-our-legal-attache-in-nairobi-part-2?utm_campaign=email-Daily&utm_medium=email&utm_source=fbi-top-stories&utm_content=288056

The Long Arm Of The Law: FBI Snatches Alleged Pirate Inside Somalia

As the late President Ronald Reagan said as a warning to international terrorists and criminals some years ago, "You can run, but you can't hide."

Keith Johnson at The Wall Street Journal reports that FBI agents traveled to Africa to arrrest a suspected pirate. 

In a first for U.S. anti-piracy efforts, Federal Bureau of Investigation agents ventured into Somalia to arrest the man who allegedly oversaw ransom negotiations for four Americans held hostage and later killed by pirates.

Mohammad Shibin, 50 years old, was captured in a joint operation, led by the FBI and coordinated with Somali authorities.

U.S. agents had never before apprehended an alleged pirate on land, though it has prosecuted a number of Somali pirates caught attacking U.S. ships in the Arabian Sea. To date, counter-piracy efforts had been waged almost exclusively in millions of square miles of ocean off the Horn of Africa.

You can read the rest of the newspaper story via the below link:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704547804576261301548767880.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

USS Bulkeley Crew Frees Ship Seized By Pirates

Below is a Combined Maritime Forces News Release:

MANAMA, Bahrain, March 7, 2011 - A request for assistance from a Japanese-owned merchant vessel in the Somali Basin led to the crew of the Combined Maritime Forces warship USS Bulkeley securing the release of the vessel and its 24 crew members from four suspected pirates yesterday.

At about 3 p.m. local time March 5, the oil tanker Guanabara reported it was under attack 328 nautical miles southeast of Duqm, Oman.

USS Bulkeley, assigned to the Combined Task Force 151 counterpiracy mission, was directed to intercept Guanabara, supported by the Turkish warship TCG Giresun of NATO's counterpiracy Task Force 508.

(In the U.S. Navy photo by Seaman Anna Wade above, the crew of the USS Bulkeley freed a merchant vessel southeast of Oman, March 6, 2011).

Following confirmation from Guanabara's master that the suspected pirates were on board and his crew had taken refuge in the ship, Bulkeley's boarding team, supported overhead by its embarked SH-60 helicopter, secured the Bahamian-flagged vessel and detained four men.

There was no exchange of fire at any time during the operation, and the decision on what to do with the suspected pirates has yet to be made, officials said.

Commodore Abdul Aleem of the Pakistani navy, commander of Combined Task Force 151, praised the latest success in the international counterpiracy effort in a statement released yesterday.

"The ships and aircraft under my command have today scored a real and immediate victory through the disruption of a suspected act of piracy and the detention of individuals believed to be engaging in piracy," he said. "Through our mutual cooperation and shared coordination, CTF 151 and our partner organizations have prevented the kidnapping of legitimate mariners who sought only to go peacefully about their business. Today, there will be a merchant ship sailing freely that would not be doing so were it not for the efforts of CTF 151."

In accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions and in cooperation with nonmember forces, the Combined Maritime Forces mission is to disrupt piracy and armed robbery at sea and to engage with regional and other partners to build capacity and improve relevant capabilities to protect global maritime commerce and secure freedom of navigation, officials said.

(Below is a U.S Navy photo of the USS Bulkeley).

U.S. Marines Seize Control of Ship From Pirates

Below is a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command news release:

MANAMA, Bahrain, Sept. 9, 2010 - A 24-member maritime raid force from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit today boarded and seized control of an Antigua-Barbuda-flagged, German–owned vessel from pirates who attacked and boarded it yesterday.

Helicopters from USS Dubuque provide aerial watch as Marines from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit's maritime raid force board and seize control of the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged, German-owned vessel M/V Magellan Star, left, Sept. 9, 2010, a day after pirates attacked and boarded the vessel. The Marines serve aboard USS Dubuque, operating under Combined Task Force 151.

The mission secured the safety of the M/V Magellan Star's crew and returned control of the ship to the civilian mariners.

Nine pirates are under the task force's control, pending further disposition, officials said, and the ship's crew has not reported any injuries or casualties. No injuries to the maritime raid force were reported.

The Combined Task Force 151 flagship, TCG Gökçeada, a Turkish frigate, was the first ship on scene, responding to a distress call early yesterday. Two additional warships assigned to the task force -- USS Dubuque and USS Princeton -- arrived in the vicinity to support Gökçeada.

"Units from the multinational maritime force, under Combined Task Force 151, are actively engaged in antipiracy operations," said Rear Adm. Sinan Ertugrul of the Turkish navy, task force commander. "This regional problem truly has global impact, and we are completely committed to bringing the disruptive acts of piracy to an end.

"We have full support of the international community," he continued, "and will continue to do everything possible to bring security to the Gulf of Aden and Somali Basin."

Combined Task Force 151 is one of three task forces operated by the 25-nation Combined Maritime Forces. It was established in January 2009 to deter, disrupt and suppress piracy, protecting maritime vessels of all nations and securing international freedom of navigation.

The above U.S. Navy photo is by Petty Officer 2nd Class William Farmerie.

April Fools: The U.S. Navy Captures Pirates in the Indian Ocean

April fools, pirates.

The U.S. Navy took decisive action against pirates on April 1st in the Indian Ocean.

The USS Faragut (seen in above photo) destroyed pirate craft and captured the pirates, showing them a small display of American naval power.

The U.S. and other nations need to deliver more of this kind of action to preserve the sea lanes and protect commercial shipping from these ragtag pirates.

You can read about this action via the below links:

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/04/01/navy-captures-pirates-gun-battle-indian-ocean/

http://www.military.com/news/article/us-navy-frigate-captures-5-pirates.html?wh=news