Pirates Release Cargo Ship Sward Near Garacad After Ransom Paid

Somali pirates released the St Kitts-flagged cargo vessel Sward near Garacad, Puntland, around September 11, 2026, after a ransom was paid, according to security sources. The Sward was hijacked approximately 6 nautical miles northeast of Garacad on April 26, 2026, with a crew of 17 (15 Syrian and 2 Indian nationals) held hostage for over four months. Security sources said the pirates had used the Sward as a mothership to help capture at least two additional vessels during its captivity before departing by vehicle onshore; the crew remained aboard. The exact ransom amount was not disclosed, though comparable 2026 payments have ranged from roughly $2.5M (MV Lutuf) to reported demands as high as $10M (MT Eureka). The release marks the first resolution among the roughly half-dozen vessels seized in Somalia's 2026 piracy resurgence.