Somali pirate "Big Mouth" and associate announce retirement, beseech world "to stop hunting us"

LONDON Piracy has always been a tough gig.

This week, a veteran of the high seas -- who stole and extorted millions during Somali piracy's golden era -- announced that he's had enough, and he is now working with the nation's government to end the "dirty business".

Mohamed Abdi Hassan, nickname "Big Mouth," said Thursday that he and some of his colleagues, "with very good sense decided to fully give up the long-running activity."

He and his men were among hundreds of mostly young Somalis who've taken to the seas and shipping channels off eastern Africa since 1991 in search of an income, as internal conflict left the country's central government unable to provide security or opportunity for the masses.

Pirate attacks are now at a three year low, however, thanks to a dramatically stepped-up, international naval partnership which patrols hundreds of miles of sea off Somalia's coast.

• Huge drop in Somali pirate attacks
• Group freed after years held by Somali pirates
• Nigeria retakes hijacked tanker as piracy hits West Africa

"We decided to give it up. We have been in it for a long time," Big Mouth's fellow retiree, Mohamed Gaada-yar, said at the news conference. "We firstly need the world to stop looting us, as we gave up piracy. Secondly, we need the world to stop hunting us."

Last year, a United Nations group tasked with monitoring the pirate problem called "Big Mouth" one of the most influential figures in Somalia's pirating scene.

A Kenyan military officer keeps guard as Soviet made T-72 tanks are offloaded from the MV Faina ship at the port of Mombasa, Feb. 14, 2009.

/ Getty

He and his men were reportedly involved in the hijack of a Ukrainian ship carrying dozens of Soviet tanks in 2009 -- released after about four months for as much as $3 million.

A year before that, Hassan's group was reportedly linked to the capture of the supertanker Sirius Star -- also eventually handed over for about $3 million.

But that's all behind Big Mouth now, he says.

"We have been in negotiations with the former government, with Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed (former Somali president), regarding the way we can easily get rid of this dirty business," the Associated Press quoted Hassan as saying Thursday in the central town of Adabo.

Gaada-yar, Hassan's colleague at the news conference, said they were now involved in a government effort to warn Somalia's youth against a life on the high seas.

[rwsmith29456]

So we are sorry when the risks outweigh profit?

[TheStolenGiraffe]

No amount of piracy from these teenagers could ever amount to the amount of "on land" piracy that goes on in their countries, or all of Africa for that matter. Developed nations prefer, protect, and facilitate a system of instability throughout the entire continent so that they can pillage for precious metals and oil. All for the benefit of companies Dell, HP, and Apple who use said precious metals for the computer chips that go in your laptops, cell phones, and pc's.

That movie Avatar was based on a true story that happens nearly everyday on the continent of Africa...except the African's aren't an alien species with flying raptor birds. Their humans with highly corruptible political systems.

And God forbid, they elect a leader who won't give into bribes from developed nations to hand over contracts so that companies can take their resources without giving anything back. They send in their "economic hitmen" and cause an uprising or plot to assassinate them. Don't believe me...look it up.

[silkstocking47]

So all is forgiven? I didn't see anything about punishment for his dastardly deeds. He probably moved to MN where tens of thousands of other Somalis have migrated to. The piracy there involves the medicaid, food stamp, housing and other freebies that MN is so kind to share with them.

[askagain]

Retiring from piracy after making millions of dollars. How convenient.

[wtcmedic911]

A bullet to the temple should be his "gold watch" for retirement.

[ttipbc]

Lucky person that would have the honor of presenting these two their "gold watches".

[HobartSchmenge]

If he was a real pirate, they would have quoted him saying "Arrrrrrrr!"

[HobartSchmenge]

Plus, where's his tri-cornered hat and eye patch? A.Complete.Fraud.

[1notrub11]

""We firstly need the world to stop looting us, as we gave up piracy. Secondly, we need the world to stop hunting us.""

So, see..... this would have been all we had to say to him to get him to stop pirating in the first place. How simple. ;)

Notice it says they are in "negotiations" with the government as to how to rid piracy. Negotiations? Can you say, payola?