The Global Advisor Kidnap & extortive crime | July 2025
Asia-Pacific
Malaysia continues to report one of the lowest rates of kidnap-for-ransom in the region; however, confirmed cases surged by 200% in the second quarter of 2025 compared to the previous quarter, as well as compared to the second quarter of 2024. While Kuala Lumpur state typically accounts for the majority of incidents, it represented only 33% of cases this quarter. The remaining incidents occurred in historically low-threat areas, including Johor, Putrajaya, and Kelantan state. Low-capability criminals engaged in opportunistic kidnaps still account for the majority of incidents in the country, though Control Risks recorded an unusually high number of complex incidents targeting high-net-worth individuals. Observed tactics included profiling and monitoring the routines of potential victims, followed by precisely timed ambushes while victims travelled between locations. Despite having one of the most difficult reporting environments in Asia-Pacific, Control Risks identified a significant increase in the extent of the kidnap threat in Papua New Guinea over the past quarter. The threat in the country stems mainly from small opportunistic gangs in large urban areas, as well as the presence of multiple tribal groups operating across the highlands, to the west of the country. Kidnaps perpetrated by tribal groups pose a serious threat to victims as they are likely to last for protracted periods, given the limited capabilities of local law enforcement units to operate in areas under their control. Kidnappers target a broad range of victims, including employees and their dependants, and often abduct multiple individuals simultaneously when the opportunity arises. Control Risks recorded a 50% decrease in the number of cases in Thailand during the second quarter of 2025, compared to the previous quarter,
and a 63% decrease compared to the second quarter of 2024. The Greater Bangkok area accounted for the highest drop, followed by Phuket and Amnat Charoen. In contrast, Chonburi province was the only province that saw an increase during the same period. This pattern is unlikely to signal a significant shift in the country’s security landscape for the remainder of the year, as financially motivated criminals continue to operate across multiple regions, particularly Greater Bangkok and Chonburi. Despite the slowdown, kidnappers have still targeted both business owners and their employees. The prevalence of kidnap-for-ransom in Bangladesh increased by 133% in the second quarter of 2025, compared to the same period last year. Chittagong division remains the country’s main hotspot, accounting for approximately 71% of confirmed cases, followed by Dhaka with less than 20%. The presence of a wide variety of criminals in Chittagong poses a credible threat to commercial businesses. Control
Risks confirmed that urban gangs systematically target the employees of small and medium-sized companies, while insurgent groups regularly target the employees of companies running large operations in rural areas, particularly in the agricultural and construction sectors. 82 % of abductions happened in transit/outdoors 95 % of abductions resolved in less than 8 days 14 sectors affected
Key developments April to June 2025
Malaysia experienced a sharp increase between the first two quarters of 2025, despite having one of the lowest threat environments in Asia-Pacific. Papua New Guinea registered a slight increase in cases during the second quarter of 2025, amid fears of a sustained increase over the rest of the year. The number of kidnapping cases decreased in Thailand during the second quarter of 2025, following a notable reduction in the Greater Bangkok area. Despite recording a slight reduction in the number of recorded kidnaps in Bangladesh between the first two quarters of 2025, the total number of cases remains higher compared to the first semester of the previous year.
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