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n The notorious pirate crews who haunt then Somalin coast are having a bad week. In the US, pirates have been tried for massacring hostages during a yacht raid in February. Meanwhile, in South Korea, another group of pirates face the death penalty after being captured on board a commercial vessel by Korean special forces.n n n The pirates' hunting grounds off then Horn of African are now patrolled by up to 30 NATO warships. Commercial vessels that used to be easy prey for pirates are getting tough: some have barbed wire defences or impenetrable safe-rooms. Others have armed crewmen to repel attacks.n n In Somalia itself the fragile government is stepping up efforts to destroy pirate bases. These days, more Somali pirates than ever end up in prison - or dead. n So why take the risk? And what is it like to live a pirate life? One of the few westerners to get a personal insight into these questions is journalist Jay Bahadur, who arranged a rare interview with a pirate captain for his upcoming book*. n n The subject, Abdullahi Abshir, is 'chairman' of 35 pirate groups operating out of Eyl, a pirate haven. He is a tall, thin man, with an air of menace, who has captured more than 25 ships in a career spanning nearly two decades. n They board ships with hooked rope ladders, taking the crews hostage and stealing the cargo to be sold back to its owners at a later date. n But things go wrong easily. In one raid in 2007, Abshir and his men boarded a Japanese freighter but immediately found themselves surrounded by US warships. They were saved by pure chance: their captured prize was full of explosive chemicals, which made it too dangerous for the navy to open fire. The chemicals and crew were eventually released for a ransom of $1.5 million. n In another hair-raising incident, Abshir was tracked to his hideout by attack helicopters and then ambushed by French soldiers. The pirate leader only narrowly escaped. Few of his men were so lucky. n n The 'coastguard'n n But however many pirates are killed or arrested, the supply of willing recruits is nearly endless. The reason is simple. Apart from piracy, there are few ways for young men in Somalia to escape the poverty and chaos that plague the country. n n Abshir himself was once a lobster fisherman - until foreign trawlers destroyed the coral reefs on which the lobsters relied. Piracy in Somalia began as a way to ward off these foreign boats and, even now, the pirates call themselves not killers, but 'coastguard'.n n n *Deadly Waters, by Jay Bahadur, will be published on 2nd June by Profile Books.n " We visit Eyl in Somalia and meet pirates' friends and enemies. Great footage. How the ransom payments are made. Pirates live the high life. The piracy business model. The book by Jay Bahadur which informed this piece Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.
n
n It's been a life full of danger. Pirates attack in small fast boats, swarming around huge cargo ships with guns andn RPGs.n Expert Links
Word Watch
Q & A
n
n The pirates' hunting grounds off then Horn of African are now patrolled by up to 30 NATO warships. Commercial vessels that used to be easy prey for pirates are getting tough: some have barbed wire defences or impenetrable safe-rooms. Others have armed crewmen to repel attacks.n n In Somalia itself the fragile government is stepping up efforts to destroy pirate bases. These days, more Somali pirates than ever end up in prison - or dead. n So why take the risk? And what is it like to live a pirate life? One of the few westerners to get a personal insight into these questions is journalist Jay Bahadur, who arranged a rare interview with a pirate captain for his upcoming book*. n n The subject, Abdullahi Abshir, is 'chairman' of 35 pirate groups operating out of Eyl, a pirate haven. He is a tall, thin man, with an air of menace, who has captured more than 25 ships in a career spanning nearly two decades. n They board ships with hooked rope ladders, taking the crews hostage and stealing the cargo to be sold back to its owners at a later date. n But things go wrong easily. In one raid in 2007, Abshir and his men boarded a Japanese freighter but immediately found themselves surrounded by US warships. They were saved by pure chance: their captured prize was full of explosive chemicals, which made it too dangerous for the navy to open fire. The chemicals and crew were eventually released for a ransom of $1.5 million. n In another hair-raising incident, Abshir was tracked to his hideout by attack helicopters and then ambushed by French soldiers. The pirate leader only narrowly escaped. Few of his men were so lucky. n n The 'coastguard'n n But however many pirates are killed or arrested, the supply of willing recruits is nearly endless. The reason is simple. Apart from piracy, there are few ways for young men in Somalia to escape the poverty and chaos that plague the country. n n Abshir himself was once a lobster fisherman - until foreign trawlers destroyed the coral reefs on which the lobsters relied. Piracy in Somalia began as a way to ward off these foreign boats and, even now, the pirates call themselves not killers, but 'coastguard'.n n n *Deadly Waters, by Jay Bahadur, will be published on 2nd June by Profile Books.n " We visit Eyl in Somalia and meet pirates' friends and enemies. Great footage. How the ransom payments are made. Pirates live the high life. The piracy business model. The book by Jay Bahadur which informed this piece Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.
n
n It's been a life full of danger. Pirates attack in small fast boats, swarming around huge cargo ships with guns andn RPGs.n Expert Links
Word Watch
Q & A
In Somalia itself the fragile government is stepping up efforts to destroy pirate bases. These days, more Somali pirates than ever end up in prison - or dead.
So why take the risk? And what is it like to live a pirate life? One of the few westerners to get a personal insight into these questions is journalist Jay Bahadur, who arranged a rare interview with a pirate captain for his upcoming book*.
n The subject, Abdullahi Abshir, is 'chairman' of 35 pirate groups operating out of Eyl, a pirate haven. He is a tall, thin man, with an air of menace, who has captured more than 25 ships in a career spanning nearly two decades. n They board ships with hooked rope ladders, taking the crews hostage and stealing the cargo to be sold back to its owners at a later date. n But things go wrong easily. In one raid in 2007, Abshir and his men boarded a Japanese freighter but immediately found themselves surrounded by US warships. They were saved by pure chance: their captured prize was full of explosive chemicals, which made it too dangerous for the navy to open fire. The chemicals and crew were eventually released for a ransom of $1.5 million. n In another hair-raising incident, Abshir was tracked to his hideout by attack helicopters and then ambushed by French soldiers. The pirate leader only narrowly escaped. Few of his men were so lucky. n n The 'coastguard'n n But however many pirates are killed or arrested, the supply of willing recruits is nearly endless. The reason is simple. Apart from piracy, there are few ways for young men in Somalia to escape the poverty and chaos that plague the country. n n Abshir himself was once a lobster fisherman - until foreign trawlers destroyed the coral reefs on which the lobsters relied. Piracy in Somalia began as a way to ward off these foreign boats and, even now, the pirates call themselves not killers, but 'coastguard'.n n n *Deadly Waters, by Jay Bahadur, will be published on 2nd June by Profile Books.n " We visit Eyl in Somalia and meet pirates' friends and enemies. Great footage. How the ransom payments are made. Pirates live the high life. The piracy business model. The book by Jay Bahadur which informed this piece Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.
n
n It's been a life full of danger. Pirates attack in small fast boats, swarming around huge cargo ships with guns andn RPGs.n Expert Links
Word Watch
Q & A
They board ships with hooked rope ladders, taking the crews hostage and stealing the cargo to be sold back to its owners at a later date.
But things go wrong easily. In one raid in 2007, Abshir and his men boarded a Japanese freighter but immediately found themselves surrounded by US warships. They were saved by pure chance: their captured prize was full of explosive chemicals, which made it too dangerous for the navy to open fire. The chemicals and crew were eventually released for a ransom of $1.5 million.
In another hair-raising incident, Abshir was tracked to his hideout by attack helicopters and then ambushed by French soldiers. The pirate leader only narrowly escaped. Few of his men were so lucky.
n The 'coastguard'n n But however many pirates are killed or arrested, the supply of willing recruits is nearly endless. The reason is simple. Apart from piracy, there are few ways for young men in Somalia to escape the poverty and chaos that plague the country. n n Abshir himself was once a lobster fisherman - until foreign trawlers destroyed the coral reefs on which the lobsters relied. Piracy in Somalia began as a way to ward off these foreign boats and, even now, the pirates call themselves not killers, but 'coastguard'.n n n *Deadly Waters, by Jay Bahadur, will be published on 2nd June by Profile Books.n " We visit Eyl in Somalia and meet pirates' friends and enemies. Great footage. How the ransom payments are made. Pirates live the high life. The piracy business model. The book by Jay Bahadur which informed this piece Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Expert Links
Word Watch
Q & A
But however many pirates are killed or arrested, the supply of willing recruits is nearly endless. The reason is simple. Apart from piracy, there are few ways for young men in Somalia to escape the poverty and chaos that plague the country.
n Abshir himself was once a lobster fisherman - until foreign trawlers destroyed the coral reefs on which the lobsters relied. Piracy in Somalia began as a way to ward off these foreign boats and, even now, the pirates call themselves not killers, but 'coastguard'.n n n *Deadly Waters, by Jay Bahadur, will be published on 2nd June by Profile Books.n " We visit Eyl in Somalia and meet pirates' friends and enemies. Great footage. How the ransom payments are made. Pirates live the high life. The piracy business model. The book by Jay Bahadur which informed this piece Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Expert Links
Word Watch
Q & A
n *Deadly Waters, by Jay Bahadur, will be published on 2nd June by Profile Books.n " We visit Eyl in Somalia and meet pirates' friends and enemies. Great footage. How the ransom payments are made. Pirates live the high life. The piracy business model. The book by Jay Bahadur which informed this piece Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Expert Links
Word Watch
Q & A
"
Word Watch
We visit Eyl in Somalia and meet pirates' friends and enemies. Great footage. How the ransom payments are made. Pirates live the high life. The piracy business model. The book by Jay Bahadur which informed this piece Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Word Watch
Q & A
How the ransom payments are made. Pirates live the high life. The piracy business model. The book by Jay Bahadur which informed this piece Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Word Watch
Q & A
Pirates live the high life. The piracy business model. The book by Jay Bahadur which informed this piece Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Word Watch
Q & A
The piracy business model. The book by Jay Bahadur which informed this piece Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Word Watch
Q & A
The book by Jay Bahadur which informed this piece Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Word Watch
Q & A
Somalia: - Somalia, a large country on the east coast of Africa, descended into anarchy after the fall of its authoritarian regime in 1991. Since then, the weak central government has struggled to hold the divided nation together. The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Q & A
The Horn of Africa: - A name for the region of Africa which juts East from the continent into the Indian Ocean. It holds four countries: Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti. RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Q & A
RPGs: - Rocket Propelled Grenades. These cheap, highly portable grenade launchers are popular with irregular fighters around the world, from Africa to Afghanistan. Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Q & A
Coastguard: - Abshir described pirates as
badaadinta badah, which literally means 'saviours of the sea'. Although it sounds glamorous, the real meaning is more like 'coastguard'. Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Q & A
Khat: - A herb, popular in East Africa, which releases stimulant chemicals when chewed. It can be addictive, and produces effects similar to cocaine or amphetamines. So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.Q & A
So piracy is worth the risk?: It can be hugely profitable. Companies pay millions to retrieve captured ships and kidnapped crew. And Somalia's pirates prey on some of the richest waters in the world. An estimated 20% of global trade passes within their range. But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.
But NATO ships are making it harder?: Yes. They're forcing the pirates to travel further for their raids. Vessels have recently been captured as far away as the Seychelles, in the middle of the Indian Ocean. That said, the few NATO ships have to patrol a vast area of water. It's been compared to using three squad cars to police the whole of Western Europe. What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called
khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.
What do pirates spend their money on?: Guns, cars and huge quantities of a narcotic herb called khat. They also have to pay off guards, translators and even investors - like any other business.