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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