This report aims to provide readers with an indicative snapshot of kidnap, threat and extortive incidents captured by Control Risks’ Special Risks Analysis team to inform wider trends across Latin America. The following cases are open-source incidents taken from Control Risks’ records. These cases were selected based on their reliable sources and illustrative nature but do not represent the full extent of the problem.
The Global Advisor:
Spotlight on Latin America January 2025
This report aims to provide readers with an indicative snapshot of kidnap, threat and extortive incidents captured by Control Risks’ Special Risks Analysis team to inform wider trends across Latin America. The following cases are open-source incidents taken from Control Risks’ records. These cases were selected based on their reliable sources and illustrative nature but do not represent the full extent of the problem.
The Global Advisor: Spotlight on Latin America | January 2025
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Brazil
Location of recorded incidents in November and December 2024
Source: Control Risks
Criminals abduct international model and her family in São Paulo Criminals on 27 November kidnapped an international model, her husband and their 14-year-old daughter in São Paulo (São Paulo state). They intercepted the family as they were leaving a restaurant on Pio XI Street and took them to a safe house in the Parada de Taipas area. The perpetrators stole their car and made multiple bank transfers for an unreported amount. They released the victims 12 hours later after hearing the police search helicopters.
Control Risks comment
Similar cases are likely to persist coming into 2025 given the high number of kidnappers targeting wealthy areas searching for affluent victims. Criminals will continue to use safe houses in Parque Taipas given its remote location in the far north of São Paulo.
Criminals shoot businessman during express kidnap Criminals abducted a 64-year-old businessman outside his apartment in Recreio, Zona Oeste, Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro state) on 25 November. The perpetrators released the victim hours later in a woodland area of Realengo, Rio de Janeiro. According to reports, the victim had been shot and required hospital treatment post-release. No further details were reported.
Control Risks comment
Rio de Janeiro will remain one of the kidnapping hotspots in Brazil as 2025 begins, given the prevalence of financially motivated criminals. Express kidnaps will also frequently take place as low-capability criminals prefer short-lived abductions given they lack the necessary capabilities to hold on to victims for longer periods, as well as their intention to evade the response from the police. Victims rarely sustain injuries, although the likelihood of perpetrators resorting to violence will increase if the victims refuse to comply with the kidnappers’ demands.
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The Global Advisor: Spotlight on Latin America | January 2025
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Chile
Man express kidnaps civilians in Maule Region An armed man on 23 November express kidnapped two individuals in Sol de Septiembre, northeast of Curicó (Maule region). The perpetrator attacked the victims in a public square and took them to an undisclosed area nearby where he attempted to make electronic bank transfers from their phones. A police patrol noticed the incident, arrested the man and released the victims. No further information was reported.
Control Risks comment
The number of reported kidnaps in Chile has increased steadily over the last five years. During 2024, the country registered 50% more cases compared to the total of the previous year. This upward trend underscores the long-term deterioration of the security environment amid the wider presence of criminal groups throughout the country. The Santiago Metropolitan region will continue accounting for the largest proportion of cases over 2025.
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The Global Advisor: Spotlight on Latin America | January 2025
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Colombia
Kidnappers release businessman and engineer in Timba (Valle del Cauca department) Kidnappers initially abducted the two victims on separate dates in Jamundi (Valle del Cauca department), targeting the businessman on 8 July and the engineer on 9 August. The perpetrators reportedly demanded COP 1bn (USD 247k) for the release of the businessman and sabotaged equipment on his mining site in retaliation for a lack of payment. The kidnappers released both men, in Timba, on 4 November.
Kidnappers kill two men travelling in Cesar department
Unidentified criminals on 15 November 2024 kill two businessmen on the outskirts of Valledupar (Cesar department). The victims travelled to Yopal (Casanare department) to purchase heavy construction machinery where the perpetrators ambushed their vehicle. The criminals moved them to an area near Tame (Arauca department) and sent a large ransom demand. Eleven days later, the authorities confirmed the discovery of the victims’ bodies.
Control Risks comment
Control Risks comment
The months-long durations of both cases are more indicative of a kidnap by a left-wing guerilla group than a criminal gang, given the greater capability and operational freedom available to the former. Guerillas will remain operational across the Cauca and Valle del Cauca departments selecting their targets based on the perception of their wealth as well as their professional affiliations.
The threat environment across the departments in the northeast of Colombia will continue to deteriorate over the next 12 months given the increased presence of the National Liberation Army (ELN) and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) dissidents. Recent evidence reveals that these groups are likely to target landholders and the owners of agriculture businesses. Abductions are likely to continue taking place both as victims transit between cities and inside their properties. Fatal outcomes will remain rare, although the likelihood may increase if the victim refuses to comply with the demands of the perpetrators.
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The Global Advisor: Spotlight on Latin America | January 2025
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Ecuador
Police rescue abducted infant following home invasion Police detained five people and rescued a three-year-old child in La Masica (Atlántida department). The perpetrators entered a residence on 12 December, restrained the child’s mother and abducted the minor before making a large ransom demand to the child’s family. Police located the perpetrators in several hours and detained the kidnappers. Honduras
Police rescue former mayor of Colimes from kidnappers
Kidnappers had initially abducted the former mayor of Colimes from her farm on 1 November, though no ransom demand was reported. Police later located her in a home in Balzar, Guayas canton (Guayas province) on 4 November.
Control Risks comment
Control Risks comment
Low-level criminal gangs will continue to perpetrate kidnaps in Honduras over 2025. Gangs will typically target middle- and high- income individuals and their dependants. Abductions from within residences will remain commonplace, with gangs targeting homes in neighbourhoods with limited security measures.
Despite the absence of a reported ransom demand, the incident was nonetheless likely to have been financially motivated. As a former government figure, kidnappers will likely have assessed the victim as wealthy, particularly relative to other inhabitants of Colimes given its position as a small town in a mostly agrarian province. While gangs in Ecuador do target mayoral figures for political gain, this victim’s lack of present control over government policy will have limited, if any political motivation for her abduction.
Gang abducts restaurant owner in Guayaquil (Guayas province) On 18 November an armed group ambushed the vehicle of the owner of a local restaurant chain as they were at the intersection of 23rd Alley and Carlos Julio Arosemena in Guayaquil. The gang killed the driver and abducted the business owner. The perpetrators released the victim eight days later, allegedly after the payment of a ransom.
Control Risks comment
Though the number of incidents in Guayas province has largely stabilised between January and November 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, gangs retain a high intent and capability to pursue small business owners and wider commercial personnel for financial gain. The stabilisation in kidnap rates is also likely a result of media fatigue impacting reporting, and actual numbers are likely to continue rising over the coming months.
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The Global Advisor: Spotlight on Latin America | January 2025
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Mexico
Peru
Criminals abduct restaurant owner in Pátzcuaro (Michoacán state) Members of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG) on 18 November kidnapped the owner of a restaurant chain in Patzcuaro (Michoacan state). The armed criminals entered the restaurant and identified the owner. Police reporting later identified the gang, who were equipped in military gear. On 21 November, the perpetrators released the victim, allegedly without making any ransom demand. No further information was reported.
Criminals take hostage employees of a store in San Juan de Lurigancho Multiple armed criminals on 26 November criminals take employees of a store hostage in San Juan de Lurigancho (Lima department). The perpetrators arrived on motorcycles and attacked the employees while demanding cash and mobile phones. They then kept them captive for a couple of hours until the arrival of the police, who negotiated their surrender.
Control Risks comment
Control Risks comment
Small and medium-sized businesses will remain the preferred targets of criminals operating across low and middle-income districts in Lima given the large volumes of transactions made in cash (Lima department). The perpetrators are also likely to become more violent amid the growing rivalries between organised criminal groups operating in the city. Cases involving hostages will remain rare, compared to the high prevalence of extortion and kidnapping incidents.
The hospitality sector remains a highly attractive target for kidnap groups operating in Mexico given their reliance on cash, as well as the fact that most business sites are often accessible and easily breached. The sector accounted for approximately 4% of incidents (where the victim’s sector was known) in Mexico between January 2020 and November 2024, according to Control Risks’ data.
Virtual kidnappers target victims in Coahuila state Virtual kidnappers on 18 November called a 54-year-old man in the Villa de Fuente area, in Piedras Negras (Coahuila state). The scammer informed him they had kidnapped his wife and daughter, before demanding a large ransom demand for their release. The man promptly ended the call and dialled his wife, diffusing the scam. No further information was reported.
Kidnappers mutilate kidnapped businessman Armed criminals on 20 November kidnapped an agriculture businessman in the Rimac district, in Lima (Lima department). They intercepted him as he was driving around the district and moved him to a safe house. The criminals tortured him and mutilated one finger to force him to disclose details of his bank accounts. Shortly after, the perpetrators abandoned the man in Lurin, south of Lima.
Control Risks comment
Control Risks comment
Criminals throughout Mexico are increasingly relying on virtual kidnap across all states given that it decreases their exposure to the authorities. Amid the increased prevalence of virtual kidnaps, a considerable number of cases will stem from criminals dialling telephone numbers randomly, nonetheless, a latent threat will persist as large criminal groups are also increasingly carrying out this type of crime. More capable perpetrators are likely to target local and foreign business travellers staying at hotels.
Local gangs are likely to target the owners of small and medium-sized businesses as they normally maintain lower security protocols. Additionally, criminals will continue to apply severe physical violence to force the victims and their families to cooperate. Lima and Trujillo will continue to be national hotspots in 2025.
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The Global Advisor: Spotlight on Latin America | January 2025
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Panamá
Puerto Rico
Criminals target rancher in Panamá Oeste province Multiple armed criminals on 18 November 2024 kidnapped a ranch owner in San Carlos (Panamá Oeste province). The perpetrators ambushed the victim as he was transporting cattle for a business transaction in the Las Penita area. The perpetrators stole cash and demanded a large ransom for his release. The criminals used the victim’s mobile phone to transfer a smaller sum. They released the victim 30 hours later. The police analysed the financial transaction on the victim’s bank statement to track and arrest the criminals.
Kidnapping gang targets teenager in Mayaguez Armed criminals on 29 November 2024 kidnapped a 17-year-old teenager in the Mirabales neighbourhood, in San Sebastián (Mayagüez district). The perpetrators intercepted the victim as he was walking in the neighbourhood and took him to a safe house where they assaulted him. The perpetrators received a tip about a police rescue operation in the area and decided to release the victim. Days later, the police announced the arrest of a suspect.
Control Risks comment
Control Risks comment
Recent cases revealed the presence of a local kidnapping gang operating in the San Sebastián area, however, the police claimed to have already identified all members of the gang. The prevalence of kidnap-for-ransom in Puerto Rico has declined steadily since 2022. Sporadic cases perpetrated by low-capability local gangs are likely to persist throughout the coming year.
Panama is not a major kidnap-for-ransom hotspot, accounting for roughly less than 1% of all cases in Latin America between January 2021 and December 2024. Kidnaps will nonetheless take place sporadically given the prevalence of financially motivated kidnappers across the Panamá, Chiriquí, Colón and Panamá Oeste provinces. Abductions over the coming months are likely to end within one or two days as the perpetrators lack the capabilities to hold victims for longer periods.
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The Global Advisor: Spotlight on Latin America | January 2025
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Trinidad & Tobago
Criminals abduct businessman in Chaguanas Two armed men on 21 November abducted a 36-year-old businessman as he was delivering building materials to a customer on Pierre Street, Lendore village, Enterprise (Chaguanas province). Witnesses reported that the perpetrators dragged the victim inside their car before escaping. His relatives later the same day received a ransom demand for an undisclosed amount. The fate of the victim was not reported.
Woman kidnapped after attending fake job interview in Chaguanas Two kidnappers abducted a Venezuelan national after luring her to a location on the false premise of a job opportunity at a bar in Penal (Penal-Debe region) on 14 December 2024. The perpetrators stole her belongings and made a ransom demand to her family. The victim escaped at 20.30 that same day.
Control Risks comment
Control Risks comment
Trinidad and Tobago recorded a 330%, uptick in kidnap cases over 2024. The threat is particularly prevalent in the north of Trinidad where criminal groups have increasingly targeted businessmen and other wealthy individuals. Recent trends also suggest that perpetrators are increasingly capable of holding victims captive for multiple weeks. Local media has also noted the participation of corrupt police officers in kidnap incidents.
Kidnaps of foreign nationals remain relatively rare and perpetrators are commonly local gangs reliant on lure tactics and other approaches that minimise the risk of interception by security forces. Gangs are unlikely to attempt to pursue employees of larger commercial operators given the greater media and police scrutiny doing so would attract.
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The Global Advisor: Spotlight on Latin America | January 2025
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Uruguay
Venezuela
Bolivian gang kidnap a woman in Montevideo Members of a Bolivian micro-trafficking gang on 26 November kidnapped a 22-year-old woman in the Municipio neighbourhood, in Montevideo (Montevideo department). The victim – who had a romantic relationship with a gang leader – received a bag with a large amount of money days before the incident. The perpetrators entered her home and requested she hand over the cash. The criminals then tortured her but released her shortly after in undisclosed circumstances. No ransom payment was reported.
Family owners of small business targeted in express kidnap
Five criminals on 27 December kidnap an unknown number of victims from one family as they closed their business in El Cementerio, Caracas (Capital District). The criminals forced the victims into their vehicle and then stole a large amount of cash along with other valuables from them. The criminals later abandoned their vehicle and the victims. One perpetrator was arrested.
Control Risks comment
Control Risks comment
Low-level criminal groups will remain the primary perpetrators of express kidnaps, targeting victims opportunistically based on their apparent wealth and vulnerability. Small business owners in particular will continue to be targeted given their ready access to cash and limited security measures.
Uruguay recorded the lowest prevalence of kidnap-for-ransom cases in South America over the last five years. This trend is likely to persist over the next year’s outlook, with outlier cases usually related to disputes between local gangs and opportunistic abductions carried out by low-capability criminals targeting individuals based on their public display of wealth.
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