Pirates off Somalia’s northeastern coast have freed a Greek-owned tanker and its crew after holding them hostage for almost a month, as Kenyan authorities speculated that the gunmen’s ransom demands were met.

The Maltese-flagged San Carlos went missing at the end of last month after it sent out a distress call. Authorities feared that the vessel and its crew had fallen victim to the Somali pirates that are responsible for at least 23 hijackings since mid-March.

“Reports reaching here from Somalia indicate that the Somali gunmen have released the MT San Carlos,” said Andrew Mwangura of the Seafarers’ Association Program on Saturday.

Mwangura added that it was likely that compensation would have been paid to the gunmen as a way of freeing the 24-member crew, and its Greek captain.