Mohamed Abdi Hassan, known as “Afweyne” or “Big Mouth”, was being held in Bruges after being detained at Brussels airport on Saturday on disembarking from a journey from Nairobi, Belga news agency said.
Continue after the break.
Judicial sources told AFP that the federal prosecutor would hold a news conference later Monday.
Afweyne announced in Mogadishu in January that he was quitting piracy after a highly profitable eight-year career. He said he was trying to persuade other pirates to complete the same.
Described a year ago by the UN as “one of the very most notorious and influential leaders” in Somalia's pirate hub, he notably was mixed up in 2008 capture of the Saudi-owned Sirius Star oil supertanker, released for a ransom of several million dollars.
He also reportedly took part in the 2008 capture of the MV Faina, a Ukrainian transport ship carrying 33 refurbished Soviet-era battle tanks, that was released after having a 134-day hijack for a reported three million dollars.
Belgian media said he was suspected also of the 2009 capture of a Belgian ship, the Pompei, held for over 70 days.
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