Purpose: The oft-romanticized view of the Indian Ocean region glosses over the physical and systemic violence that dots its history. This paper illustrates the said point through a broad analysis of the crimes of illegal fishing and maritime piracy off the coast of Somalia, and specific examination of the tragic case of three Thai fishing boats that Somali pirates captured in mid–April 2010. Design, Methodology, Approach: By drawing on existing secondary material- from media coverage, scholarly analyses and industry and policy reports-and extensive ethnographic research on the ground in pirate- affected parts of Somalia, this paper documents the dynamics of illegal fishing, piracy, and associated criminalities. Several open-ended interviews (some of which were repeated) and less formal consultations were particularly useful in piecing together the story. Findings: By revealing the physical and systemic violence of the specific case, this paper encapsulates aspects of the violent start to the 21st century in parts of the Indian Ocean region. It also reveals the inner workings of piracy, ransom negotiations and the consequences of deception and breakdown of "trust" even in the criminal world of the predatory enterprise of piracy.