Piracy Today: Fighting Villainy on the High Sea

Modern piracy is a billion-dollar business that takes advantage of inadequate international law, lax enforcement and under-staffed ships. Gangs armed with AK-47s and small rocket launchers have been emboldened by recent successes and are demanding--and often receiving six-figure ransoms. Theft of cargo and rocketing insurance premiums means the cost of transporting goods is rising, not to mention the increased physical danger to mariners in all corners of the globe.

In this eye-opening accou...