Kidnappings around the world have typically had one of two major goals: publicity for a local political cause or as a form of "fund-raising" for the kidnappers. Recently, kidnappings for political reasons have been on the decrease, whereas kidnapping for profit has seen a dramatic increase.
A prime example of this trend is in Colombia. Colombia is considered to be the kidnapping capital of the world, with rival guerrilla and paramilitary groups consistently abducting civilians including businessmen, tourists and aid workers. The ransom money obtained from these activities is used primarily to finance a 37-year civil war in Colombia. The U.S. State Department estimates that more than 3,000 people are kidnapped in Colombia each year. Most kidnap victims are Colombians who are either wealthy or who can at least come up with a few thousand dollars. Although the kidnappings are most often performed by political dissidents, the motivation for the kidnappings is usually money, not politics.
Colombia is not the only country to be plagued with this increase in kidnappings for profit. Ransom kidnappings are becoming more common in Mexico, Central America, Brazil, Chechnya, the Philippines, Haiti, and many other developing countries throughout the world. Although many kidnappings are politically motivated, a growing number are simply fund-raising exercises by guerrillas or common criminals. For example, when a new rebel group, the Popular Revolutionary Army, surfaced in Mexico in 1996, experts concluded that the group financed itself through kidnappings carried out over the previous two years.
One of the causes of the worldwide increase in kidnappings for profit is that billions of dollars in foreign investment has only marginally assisted the poor throughout the Third World. This has created a growing resentment of the elites who have hoarded much of the wealth. Therefore, often kidnappings for profit throughout the Third World are a backlash by the poor against the elites, in an attempt to even the score by obtaining some of their money.
Moreover, there is an increasing risk of kidnapping for tourists and expatriate executives throughout the world. This is particularly so for Americans, who are perceived as rich even when they are not. Their substantial numbers--3.2 million living overseas and 50 million traveling’ internationally each year--have left Americans more at risk than citizens of other countries. In many countries, the kidnapping of business people, especially American executives and mid-level managers, as well as tourists has become a thriving business. For example, during the last several years, the FARC and ELN, two Colombian terrorist groups, have extorted more than $632 million from foreign companies and individuals.
In fact, the problem of kidnapping has become so bad internationally that several insurance and security companies are offering either international kidnapping insurance or, at least, detailed instructions on how to avoid a kidnapping. This too has become a thriving business. According .to Fielding Worldwide, Inc., a typical KRE (Kidnap, Ransom and Extortion) insurance policy has a $1 million limit. An annual policy would cost between US$7,000 in Brazil or up to a maximum of US$26,000 in Colombia--this is an incredible cost. Corporations usually buy blanket policies that cover all employees, but often business is intertwined with extended family from grandparents down to grandchildren. Therefore, often the entire family must be included in the policy to ensure maximum coverage.
Since kidnappers are aware of these KRE policies, the insurance policies have inadvertently created a way for them to make even more money than if they were to kidnap a typical man off the street. So, is it necessary to obtain one of these policies Seitlin & Company (a KRE insurance provider) believes that you would be "crazy" to do business in Latin America without US$5--$10 million in KRE coverage since, for example, in Colombia a ransom less than a million is considered a joke. Unless your family can afford this price tag, a KRE policy will provide payment if you happen to be kidnapped. Consequently, kidnap prevention and hostage- release services are growth enterprises and more and more KRE policies are being written all the time.
On the other side of this enterprise are the kidnappers. They are skilled professionals who are experienced in surveillance techniques, communications, logistics and command control, as well as weaponry. The kidnappers continue the kidnapping because they know that frequently it is an insurance company who will pay out -- and pay out big. As a result, there is a known range within which the eventual price will be agreed upon, depending on the caliber of the executive, his or her country of origin and the type of kidnapper. Thus, even if the initial counter-offer is far below the initial demand, kidnappers know it is part of the "business" to keep negotiations going.
Unfortunately, not everyone can afford kidnap-negotiation services or a KRE policy. For example, Thomas Hargrove, a Texas science writer working in Colombia, was held for 334 days until his wife, frustrated by his company’s refusal to pay a ransom, hired her own negotiators. She paid $500,000 for his release.
Clearly, kidnapping has become big business in many parts of the world.