International Kidnapping as a Business

Summary: 5 pages. 7 sources. APA format.

International kidnappings are on the rise and have become one of the fastest growing ‘industries’ in the world. This paper looks at kidnapping as a thriving business.

International Kidnapping as a Business

Introduction

The kidnapping and ransom of individuals for profit has dramatically increased in the past decade throughout the world. While the majority of victims are wealthy businessmen, more recently, the average tourist has become a target for kidnappers looking for monetary and material gain. In recent years, kidnappers have also become more organized and are demanding more money for the safe return of hostages.

Why has international kidnapping been on the increase? The simple answer is because it has become an extremely profitable form of business transaction for the kidnappers. This paper analyzes and scrutinizes international kidnapping as a thriving business.

The Business of Kidnapping

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. According to writer David Williams, 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 (2001, para.1). The ransom money obtained from these activities is used primarily to finance a 37-year civil war in Colombia (Williams, 2001, para.1).

The U.S. State Department estimates that more than 3,000 people are kidnapped in Colombia each year (Williams, 2001, para.2). Most kidnap victims are Colombians who are either wealthy or who can at least come up with a few thousand dollars. And, according to Williams, although the kidnappings are most often performed by political dissidents, the motivation for the kidnappings is usually money, not politics (para.11). Mike Ackerman, founder of The Ackerman Group, a Miami, Florida-based firm that consults companies in kidnap and ransom cases, said "They are political groups that do the kidnapping, but they're out for money. The political groups have to support themselves and one of the ways that they support th...

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...insurance policies, one can surmise that kidnappings for profit will continue to increase throughout the world and continue to grow as a ‘business’.

Bibliography

Auerbach, A. H., (1998). Ransom – The Untold Story of International

Kidnapping. New York: Henry Holt and Company.

Clancy, C. (2001). Kidnapping businesspeople has become big business. Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal. Retrieved May 22, 2003, from http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2001/09/24/smallb2.html Expatriation Trend, The. (1997-2003). Cyberhaven.com. Retrieved

May 22, 2003, from http://www.cyberhaven.com/offshorelibrary/expatriation.html

Fielding Worldwide, Inc. (1998). Kidnap, Rescue and Extortion

Insurance. Retrieved May 22, 2003, from http://www.comebackalive.com/df/kidnapp/kdnapins.htm

Hargrove, T. R., (2001). Long March to Freedom. New York: Random

House, Inc.

Wall, T. (February 26, 1997). The Kidnap Business. Salon.com.

Retrieved May 22, 2003, from http://www.salon.com/feb97/news/news2970226.html

Williams, D. (May 7, 2001). Kidnapping is Big Business in

Colombia. CNN.com/World. Retrieved May 22, 2003, from: http://www-cgi.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/americas /05/07/colombia.kidnapping/