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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