A Saudi freighter the size of an aircraft carrier is being held by a small band of Somali pirates. With a load of two million barrels of crude oil and a crew of twenty-five, it's a valuable hostage for the pirates and a potential environmental disaster if negotiations fail and an oil spill occurs. Guest host Sara Terry explores what’s happened to millions of dollars in ransom paid for the release of other vessels, who the pirates are and why they aren’t being caught by naval forces.
Banner image: The Liberian-flagged oil tanker MV Sirius Star at anchor off the coast of Somalia November 19. Photo: William S. Stevens/US Navy via Getty Images