Two Somali fishermen, their faces concealed by large scarves, cautiously step into a room for a covert interview. They’ve agreed to explain why they recently turned to piracy, armed and seeking million-dollar ransoms.

“You can record – we accept,” one of them says, sitting down nervously after months of arranging the meeting in the coastal town of Eyl.

Their demeanor sharply contrasts with the swagger of pirates who once dominated this ancient port, nestled between barren mountains on Somalia’s Indian Ocean coast. Eyl, a strategically important town with its freshwater source, was a haven for pirates during the piracy boom of the 2000s. It became infamous as “Harunta Burcadda” or the Pirate Capital, where pirates hijacked ships, including oil tankers, forcing major shipping routes to change. The local police dared not intervene, and the town profited from ransom payments. Between 2005 and 2012, pirate groups earned an estimated $339 million to $413 million, according to the World Bank.

But the pirates’ fortunes shifted when international naval patrols increased, and today, Puntland's Maritime Police Force has a base in Eyl. Many locals welcomed this change, as piracy had brought inflation, drugs, alcohol, and social turmoil to the region. Yet, resentment towards foreign fishing trawlers, accused of stealing from local fishermen, remains deeply entrenched.

Farah, one of the fishermen-turned-pirates, recounts how a foreign trawler crew stole their nets, destroyed their engine, and shot their catch. Another painful memory is the disappearance of relatives who went to check their nets one morning, only to be found three days later, lifeless, with bullet wounds in their bodies.

“We work by the sea,” Farah explains. “When someone robs you, you have to fight back. They started the fight. If they hadn’t taken our property, we wouldn’t have turned to piracy.”

Over the past year, many other fishermen have followed in their footsteps. Pirate attacks, which dropped to zero between 2020 and 2022, have resurged in 2023, with 22 attacks reported by December. While many of these don’t lead to successful hijackings, when they do, the rewards are significant. In March 2024, pirates received a $5 million ransom for the Bangladesh-flagged MV Abdullah, though the vessel’s owner hasn’t confirmed the sum.

Sources in Puntland estimate that around 10 pirate gangs, each with about 12 members, are active in the region. These groups set out for 15 to 30-day missions, equipped with AK-47s, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and supplies. Their goal is to hijack medium-sized vessels far in the Indian Ocean and use GPS trackers to locate larger targets.

“Using small boats, we approach the ship,” Farah explains. “If they don’t stop, we fire warning shots. Our goal isn’t to kill – it’s to scare them and get what we want.”

Such operations require significant funding, which is raised through investors, often from the cities of Garowe and Bosaso. These investors fund boats, weapons, and supplies, hoping to profit from a successful hijacking. Weapons are easily accessible in Somalia, where an AK-47 can cost around $1,200.

Farah and Diiriye, however, were not involved in the earlier piracy boom and have not sought advice from seasoned pirates. Most of the old pirates have either repented or left the region, with one high-profile example being Abdirahman Bakeyle, who gave away his wealth and became a preacher.

Piracy’s legacy in Eyl is still felt, especially through the rise in alcohol and drug use, including opioids. There are concerns that young men addicted to khat, a stimulant leaf, may increasingly turn to other drugs like crystal meth.

The town’s fishermen, while rejecting piracy, understand the grievances behind it, especially after witnessing foreign fishing fleets stealing their equipment. Ali Mursal Muse, a local fisherman, has repeatedly complained about the illegal actions of Iranian and Yemeni ships but claims that nothing has been done to stop them.

Illegal fishing remains a contentious issue in Somalia, with foreign vessels operating without proper licenses or using fake Somali permits, often backed by armed protection. Somalia reportedly loses $300 million annually to illegal fishing.

While the situation has improved somewhat due to international efforts, Puntland’s Information Minister acknowledges that piracy can still occur, and illegal fishing continues to affect local fishermen.

The solution, according to experts like the Puntland Maritime Police Commander, is job creation. “If young people are busy with legitimate work, they won’t turn to piracy,” he says.

Farah and Diiriye agree, stating that piracy is their only way to provide for their families, as fishing has become unprofitable. Though they know piracy is wrong, Diiriye admits he is too afraid to tell his mother about his new life.

“If she knew, she’d be very disappointed. She’d probably report me to the authorities,” he says.