The crew of the superyachtLe Ponant, kidnapped by pirates off the Somalian coast on the 4th April, have been released and the pirates captured in a daring raid by French commandos.

30 crew members were freed by the pirates after the yacht’s owners, shipping line CMA-CGM group, reportedly paid an undisclosed ransom sum.

The commandos moved in after the crew were released on Friday. Military helicopters tracked the pirates to the village of Jariban in Somalia and moved in when they saw some of them trying to flee the scene. A sniper disabled the engine of the getaway car, while another helicopter dropped off three French commandos, who captured six of the 12 pirates.

It is believed that much of the ransom money was recovered in the raid.