While maritime piracy has existed for hundreds of years, the current criminal situation off the coast of Somalia has escalated dramatically. In 2010, pirates attacked more than 200 commercial and private vessels and obtained an estimated $240 million in ransom payments from hijackings. In February, pirates shot and killed four American hostages. These startling facts highlight the need for an aggressive military and law enforcement response to deter and prosecute acts of violence on the high seas.

U.S. Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) special agents have served as a law enforcement presence aboard U.S. Navy vessels for decades; however, the idea of sending NCIS agents to support the interdiction and investigation of international crimes, such as piracy, is a new concept. Following a request for support from the U.S. Navy in 2008, NCIS developed the Counterpiracy Investigations and Operations Program to provide law enforcement expertise in support of naval forces on the front lines of counterpiracy efforts.