So in September last year, Somali pirates hijacked a Ukrainian ship, the Faina, and demanded a ransom from its owners.

Turns out the ship was secretly carrying 33 tanks and an assortment of weapons, apparently heading for Sudan (not Kenya as supposed) in defiance of the UN embargo.

The pirates made for the Pirate port of Eyl in Norther Somalia, but were intercepted by US naval vessels. This is where hijacked ships are usually stripped, and is also where the 2004 tsunami stirred up containers of toxic waste dumped by European countries over the preceding decades.

Today it was announced that a $3 million ransom had been paid. So much money, so many issues – but noone comes out of it looking good.