SecurAssist

In December, SecurAssist informed its members of the dangers of piracy in international waters – most notably off the coast of Somalia. Within weeks, Somali pirates had made headlines around the world after hijacking the Maersk Alabama, a US-flagged cargo ship with 20 American crew members onboard. While SecurAssist’s warning may have appeared prescient to those who have not followed the piracy issue, our customers knew that the Maersk incident was actually just one of dozens of such confrontations that have occurred worldwide in the past year.

Whether they are active in the Gulf of Aden, along the coasts of South America or in the waters off of Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, most pirates are motivated by a common goal: money. Piracy has become an extremely lucrative pastime in regions of the world where large portions of the population are forced to survive on dollars or pennies a day. In many cases, crews have been released upon the payment of a ransom and physical violence has been avoided. However, while daring hijackings and rescues at sea may be the stuff of headlines and nightly newscasts, SecurAssist customers should know that Somali pirates are not the only individuals in the world who will take extreme measures to secure financial gains. Kidnap-and-ransom scenarios are becoming increasingly common in various locations around the globe – and they are not limited to rich and well-connected individuals. Just a glance at recent media reports should remind travelers that kidnapping remains a travel security concern on almost every continent:

• In mid-April, kidnappers in northern Nigeria seized Julie Ann Mulligan, a Canadian woman participating in a Rotary exchange program in the city of Kaduna. While kidnappings in the southern part of Nigeria have become common, especially abductions of oil workers in the southern Niger Delta, this incident was believed to be the first of its kind in the northern part of the country. As of April 27, Mulligan had not yet been released; kidnappers were demanding $136,000 to secure her return.

• A rash of kidnappings involving prominent Bulgarians has become serious enough that the Bulgarian Interior Ministry has lobbied members of parliament to increase jail terms for kidnappers and to criminalize the act of paying a ransom. News reports indicate that there have been 15 high-profile kidnappings in Bulgaria over the past two years, targets of which have included a soccer club executive, a former senior government official and a 70-year old entrepreneur who was held for 17 days – until his family paid a ransom of approximately $775,000.

• Like their counterparts in Bulgaria, rich Mexicans also fear the threat of kidnapping for ransom. However, recent activity indicates that kidnap-ransom scenarios have become a threat to middle-class Mexicans as well. Incidents have been reported in which families have sold all of their valuables in order to secure the safe return of the victim. Another tactic used by kidnappers against private citizens and tourists, known as “express kidnapping,” sees a victim held hostage until the captors have emptied his or her bank accounts using bank and credit cards.

• Kidnapping has also been a frightening reality for aid workers in developing countries, including two European employees of Doctors Without Borders who were recently abducted in Somalia. The militia members who carried out the kidnapping near the Ethiopian border are reportedly demanding “some money” to release the men.  As the global financial situation continues to worsen, travelers should expect to see many more of these stories in the news. SecurAssist customers who are scheduled to travel to any kidnapping ‘hot spot’ should remember the following tips:

• Prior to traveling, consult media and Internet resources to identify the various threats of the destination location, including the differing threats against local nationals, expatriates and travelers.

• Prior to traveling, identify regions of the city and/or country to be avoided due to the increased risk or history of crime and security incidents.

• For travel to high risk areas, ensure that you have the appropriate insurance and associate training (i.e. situational awareness) prior to departure.

• Be certain to share your itinerary only with those that need the information, particularly as it relates to in-country locals. Leave a copy of your itinerary with trusted individuals.

• If necessary, obtain secure transportation throughout the trip as an alternative to the use of local, public transport.

• Avoid all unnecessary travel after dark, as this is the timeframe for the majority of kidnapping incidents.

• Vary your travel routine each day by altering departure times and routes. Prior planning, in-depth awareness of your destination and adherence to the tips above are essential for travel to any destination with a record of kidnap-and-ransom incidents.