In this edition of the Global Kidnap Bulletin,we look at how the COVID-19 pandemic has created opportunities for security forces across Latin America to solicit bribes, carry out extortions and enact wrongful detentions. We also weigh up the threat of terrorist kidnapping in Turkey, look at the recent rise in maritime crime in Asia, explain how extortion rackets in Cape Town are impacting a broader range of targets, and look at the latest developments in militant kidnappings affecting travellers to Mali.
Covid corruption: Extortion among Latin America’s security forces during the pandemic
In some Latin American countries, the Covid-19 pandemic has bolstered the role of security forces and reduced oversight. As a result, there has been a clear uptick of extortive practices, wrongful detentions and other crimes in a number of jurisdictions.
Terrorist kidnapping in Turkey:Between fact and fiction
Recent arrests of Islamic State (IS) militants in Turkey have prompted questions about the threat of terrorist kidnapping in the country.
The rising threat of maritime crime and piracy in Asia
Recent reporting suggests a notable uptick in piracy and armed robbery incidents in Asian waters. In this article, we share some of the key details of these latest incidents, and offer our analysis of the key drivers of this trend.
Extortion in Cape Town: A shift in target
Lockdown restrictions imposed by the South African government have prevented night clubs – traditional targets for extortion gangs’ protection rackets in Cape Town – from operating for several months. In response, extortionists have widened their target base, and are looking to cafes, restaurants and hotels as potential sources of income.
Snatched in the Sahel: Militant kidnappings in Mali
In August, the Malian government released more than 200 militants from its prisons in a deal to release hostages held by the Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) group.