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Home World Cup 2010 Express Kidnap for ransom
Express Kidnap for ransom PDF Print E-mail
Monday, 03 May 2010 11:33
Kidnapping for ransom has become a significant corporate concern worldwide, spurring a specialised insurance sector worth an estimated US$100 million annually. Although traditional high risk markets such as South and Central America continue to be the primary focus of attention for this sector, South Africa and other African countries (particularly Nigeria) have over the past few years come to be identified as potential high-risk destinations. With the FIFA 2010 World Cup less than 40 days away, it is pertinent to briefly consider the risks of kidnapping that visitors could be exposed to, and ways to manage these risks. images

It is difficult to judge precisely where South Africa ranks on the global risk barometer so far as kidnapping risks are concerned. One reason for this is that many cases are resolved without being reported to authorities, and hence are not recorded in official statistics. A second problem is that official statistics in South Africa fail to differentiate between different forms of kidnapping, such as illegal removal of a child by a non-custodial parent and classic kidnap for ransom incidents, resulting in potentially spurious data. At the current time, this is further complicated by the continued refusal of the South African authorities to release updated crime statistics for the country ahead of the World Cup.

Having been involved in kidnap for ransom risk management for over a decade, Pasco's view on South Africa is that although the risks of kidnap cannot be discounted, the risk of kidnapping remains significantly lower than threats related to other forms of violent crime, such as robbery and vehicle hijacking. Having said that, there are also clear indications that the number of kidnap for ransom incidents in South Africa is on the rise. This is of concern because it could indicate that organised crime syndicates operating in South Africa are adapting their strategies and methods to include kidnapping. If this is so, South Africa could be on the cusp of a significant upsurge in kidnap for ransom incidents, which would dramatically raise the risk profile for local and multinational companies operating in the country.

So far as the World Cup is concerned, the primary risk relates to so-called “express kidnappings”, in which victims are selected on an opportunistic basis and held for short periods of time until a ransom is paid. Typically, ransoms demanded are under US$5,000 and in most cases the victim is held for less than 24 hours. We are aware that in the past year, there have for example been a number of cases where school children have been abducted and a ransom demanded. In most of these cases, the perpetrators have targeted children attending private schools, on the assumption that their parents will readily have access to the ransom demanded. For World Cup visitors, however, the most likely scenario is that of being hijacked or abducted and forced to withdraw cash from automatic teller machines (ATM's). This is not an uncommon modus operandi of criminal gangs in South Africa, and it is feasible that foreign visitors could be targeted because of a belief that they are wealthier than locals.

There are a number of steps that World Cup visitors can take to reduce the risk of 'express kidnappings':

·    Where possible, move around in groups of at least 3-4. Kidnappers typically target lone individuals as they are easier to manage than a group of individuals.

·    Try to make cash withdrawals during the day, rather than at night. Most express kidnappings occur after dark, and victims are often followed from ATM's.

·    Make cash withdrawals in shopping malls and other large centers, rather than at fuel stations or smaller centers. Before conducting your transaction, determine if there are individuals in the vicinity (including in parked vehicles) that appear to be acting suspiciously or loitering around. If uncertain, rather move on.

·    Do not make large cash withdrawals in one transaction. This could provide an indication to potential attackers that you have access to significant amounts of cash.

·    Avoid wearing or displaying high-value accessories or equipment.

·    Avoid areas that are dark, deserted or in other aspects evidently unsafe.

images2In event of a worse case scenario where one is seized and forced to provide personal banking details, it is important to note that compliance is a vital factor in surviving the incident relatively unscathed. Criminals involved in express kidnappings are primarily interested in extracting cash as quickly as possible and with the least risk to themselves, and in most cases where victims comply with the demands they are released unharmed. Resistance, whether of an active or a passive form, raises the threat of physical harm considerably.

Corporates that are concerned about the possible exposure of guests or employees to kidnap risks during the World Cup are encouraged to contact Pasco for further assistance. A follow-up feature on this website will deal with the more complex aspects of kidnap for ransom where victims are held for longer periods and negotiations are required to secure their release.