Australian dollars boost pirate hunters

Stephen Spark

Australian government funding of AUD40,000 ($36,000) will be used to boost the capabilities of the Seychelles-based Regional Fusion and Law Enforcement Centre for Safety and Security at Sea (Reflecs3).

Reflecs3 changed its name from the Regional Anti-Piracy Prosecutions and Intelligence Coordination Centre (Rappicc) late last year to reflect a broader role in fighting transnational crime. Last year, Rappicc co-director Garry Crone revealed that the organisation’s activities would expand to include combating other forms of maritime crime when IHS Maritime visited the centre before it officially opened in February 2013. The Australian money will be used to support investigations relating to Somali pirate leaders, financiers and negotiators, to provide prison intelligence training in east Africa and to purchase medical trauma kits for vessel protection teams.

Via: http://www.ihsmaritime360.com/

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