It seems to be about seafaring pirates using CB and satellite phones, although obviously radio signals are radio signals and there are plenty of terrestrial scofflaws using them. So with that in mind I have a question.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but that would work only with FM band pirates, right? Because SW and MW signals refract off of the F or F2 layer, or are absorbed by the D layer depending on frequency and time of day, while only VHF passes through the ionosphere. (Though in these times of solar minimum, the lower limit of what passes through is probably well into the HF range - the article specifically mentions CB used by seafaring pirates).
I would wonder about the power levels used by FM pirates as well, although line of sight is line of sight.