The Global Advisor: Spotlight on Latin America | November 2024
Celebrating 30 years in partnership
Mexico
Peru
Police defuse virtual kidnap in the Guadalajara metropolitan area A woman on 9 October received an MXN 200,000 (USD 10,200) ransom demand from criminals claiming to have kidnapped her 15-year-old son in Tlajomulco (Jalisco state). The teenager later called her from a phone booth and mentioned receiving instructions from criminals to isolate in Tlaquepaque. The police geolocated the victim’s phone and ended the scam.
Businessman rescued after ten days in captivity Media on 12 October reported on the rescue of a business owner ten days after his abduction at his store in Chimbote (Ancash department). The family received a ransom demand for PEN 3m (USD 790,000), followed by videos of the perpetrators mutilating the victim’s hands. The police rescued the victim after 10 days and arrested multiple suspects.
Control Risks comment
Control Risks comment
The number of recorded kidnaps in Peru increased since the start of 2024, a pattern that will continue into the end of the year considering the growing capabilities of criminal groups. Overall, cases affecting business owners lasted for longer periods, usually around a week, though most of these incidents ended with successful rescues.
Mexico is the Americas’ virtual kidnap hotspot, accounting for 25% of all reported incidents in the region according to Control Risks’ data. This trend will continue over a one-year outlook given the high number of low capability criminals who engage in this type of crime. The dependants of business owners or high-earning employees will also continue to be the most targeted victim profiles.
Close to a quarter of companies received extortion or kidnapping threats in 2024 A news outlet on 18 October reported that roughly 21% of privately owned companies in Peru received extortion and kidnapping threats over the course of 2024. A little under half of the businesses confirmed that they increased their expenditure on security as a result of the perceived threats.
Control Risks comment
This trend will likely persist into 2025, as continued political and economic instability fuels the expansion of criminal groups across urban areas of Peru. The La Libertad and Lima departments will remain the primary hotspots and perpetrators are likely to target businesses from a variety of sectors, including retail, manufacturing, education, entertainment, and professional services, as well as government offices.
4
Copyright © Control Risks – Please refer to the disclaimer at the end of this document.
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker