S.E. Asia pirates on the prowl

A spate of daring high-seas attacks off Southeast Asia is stoking fears

Southeast Asia pirates on the prowl

KUALA LUMPUR – A spate of daring high-seas attacks off Southeast Asia is stoking fears that its vital shipping lanes could once again become a hotspot for piracy unless regional powers act fast.

For centuries, pirates were the scourge of the Malacca Strait — the strategic channel between Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore through which a third of global trade now passes.

They were largely put out of business about five years ago by stepped-up patrols.

But several tankers or cargo ships have been attacked in Southeast Asian waters since April, with pirates hijacking the vessels before syphoning off hundreds of tonnes of valuable fuel or oil.

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Source: enca.com