Blood Ransom

For the first time in history, the navies of every superpower on the planet have united against a common enemy-a couple thousand ragtag underfed men and boys. Crammed together in tiny open boats, they range up to a thousand miles away from their home shores. Armed with ancient AK-47s and rocket-propelled grenades, they scour the western Indian Ocean.

No one knows how many simply die at sea. But occasionally these modern-day pirates hit the jackpot, seizing vessels and crews that will be ransomed for millions of dollars. This is a war that's estimated to cost the world economy eighteen billion dollars every year and has so far seemed impossible to win.

A lawyer turned filmmaker, John Boyle builds up the story of the Somali pirates using his experiences on the ground while filming for.