(Sh.M.Network)-A ransom of at least $4 million was paid for the release of a Greek-owned chemical tanker with 21 Filipino crew members seized by pirates six months ago, a Somalia news site reported early Saturday (Manila time).Somalia Report said the pirate gang that released the "Liquid Velvet" claimed getting $4 million in ransom for the vessel, which they released last June 5.
"They released the vessel on the 5th of June. We were not aware that they released the vessel because the negotiation failed two times before Tuesday, and this group moved from Buq village to the miles in the sea, and after they released they return to the land with speed boats," it quoted Faysal, a pirate in Garacad area, as saying.
It added local pirate Aw-Kombe and his gang, who come from the Bari region, were heavily involved in the hijacking of Liquid Velvet.
Somalia Report said the commander of the gang is one Cabdule Gabobe of the Omar Mohamud sub-clan of Majerteen.
The Liquid Velvet was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on October 31 last year, while transiting from Suezto India.
It carried 21 Filipino crew members. The 17-year-old tanker has a gross tonnage of 5,998 tons and is Marshall Islands-flagged, owned by Athens-based Elmira Tankers.
Somalia Report said the pirates initially demanded $8 million in ransom.
On Friday, Foreign Affairs front man Raul Hernandez said the tanker was released earlier this week.
Hernandez said the families of the crew members were already informed by the local manning agency about this development.
The DFA has instructed the Philippine Embassy inMuscatto provide assistance to the crew members once the vessel docks at the Portof Salalah.