What started out as patrols to control the commercial plundering of coastal Somalia has now grown into a highly organised and lucrative business. Somalia has grown to depend on what pirates bring in and entire villages are sustained in this fashion. Once thought to be consigned to history, pirates of many nationalities roam the South China Sea, the Caribbean, the Malacca Straits and waters off South America. The attacks are increasing in number and violence as the ransom money paid is used to buy state-of-the-art boats, automatic weapons, and rocket-propelled grenades.
