Some Somali pirates have reportedly began formalizing their correspondence with the owners of ships they hijacked by starting with a greeting of "To Whom It May Concern" and closing with "Best regards."
All on printed PAG letterhead.
One such letter provided to a media source greeted the addressee with "Congratulations to the Company/Owner." It identified itself as the Jamal Pirate Action Group (JPAG) and coolly told the shipping company to "follow our law." The letter was stamped with - you guessed it - a skull and crossed swords with the group's initials.
It even carried a slogan in all capital letters: WITH PIRACY COVERAGE, YOU GET A DISCOUNT.
No mention of this particular pirate gang is available on the Internet sites of NATO, the EU Navfor nor the International Maritime Bureau. The IMB has refused to issue any comment.
The scurge of piracy has already cost the global shipping industry about
USD7 billion in 2011 alone and netted pirates an estimated USD160 million in ransom money.
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