Kidnapping is a serious problem in Honduras. This briefing addresses the threat, describes who is targeted, and suggests countermeasures.

Definitions
Honduran authorities narrowly define "kidnapping" as "abduction for ransom." An act of abduction is termed a kidnapping only after ransom has been requested. As a result, official statistics do not include numerous abductions for other purposes, such as rape, revenge or murder.

Victim Profiles:
1996-2001 According to security authorities, there were at least 60 kidnappings during this period. The real numbers are undoubtedly higher, since this figure does not include unreported cases that were quietly resolved by ransom payments. Over a quarter of the victims were so-called "turcos" - Hondurans of Arab descent - who are disproportionately targeted due to their ability to pay discreetly with little or no police involvement. Two of the victims were resident foreigners who may have held dual Honduran citizenship. Six reportedly died, whether from pre-existing medical conditions, a lack of access to medication, or in botched kidnapping attempts.
At least two escaped. Police suspect that at least three cases are examples of "self-kidnapping" - an attempt to collect money from an insurance company, family members or business associates. Five people are still missing in what may have been abduction/murders or executions rather than kidnappings, per se. Sometimes family members are reticent to accept that a relative who has been "kidnapped" may have been murdered and instead hope that they are still alive in captivity.

Targeting
Kidnapping is all about money. Ability and willingness to pay are critical factors in the selection of targets, which are increasingly vulnerable family members rather than well-protected principals. While heads of household tend to have bodyguards, secure transportation and well-guarded homes and offices, their family members - and in particular their young daughters - are more accessible, easier to control when taken, and less likely to be confused with bodyguards or drivers, thereby reducing the risk of targeting the wrong person (as happened in one well-publicized case). Taking a family member also leaves the principal free to negotiate for his or her release. In fact, sometimes one spouse is targeted so that the other may arrange and raise money for ransom.

Family Members
In Central America, the terms "niece," "nephew" and "cousin" are used very loosely, and can refer to quite distant relatives within an extended family. As a result, even people who are not close relatives of the principal can still be considered fair game by kidnappers.

The Kidnappers
The most successful kidnappers operating in San Pedro Sula and Tegucigalpa consist of unrelated, closely knit criminal groups that may include former members of the police and military. It is also possible that corrupt elements within the current security establishment may be involved. Victims are carefully chosen, surveilled and abducted in well-choreographed operations employing multiple vehicles, lookouts, armed teams, cell phones and safe houses. The most professional groups utilize multiple digital cellular phones for brief calls. In cases of kidnap for ransom, contact with the family is usually initiated within one to three days, and family members are instructed to not contact the police. While the kidnappers' goal is to obtain money, they will kill a victim if threatened or if faced with the need to escape.

Negotiations
Negotiations may be conducted by a senior family member, by the Catholic Church (especially in San Pedro Sula), or - far less frequently - by offshore corporate security or insurance company representatives. The amount paid is inevitably less than what the kidnappers first demanded. If the victim has kidnap insurance, insurance company representatives will work closely with the family to negotiate payment.

Insurance
Kidnap insurance, including investigative and negotiation support, is available from a few companies that specialize in this type of coverage, and is typically purchased by a few wealthy families and corporations operating overseas. For obvious reasons, the existence of such a policy should be kept totally secret. Individuals have been targeted specifically because they were known to carry kidnap insurance.

Security Resources
The Investigative Police (DGIC) have primary investigative responsibility for kidnappings, and recently formed an elite unit that focuses exclusively on this category of crime. As of this writing, the unit is untested. The DGIC is supported by the Preventive (uniform) Police and Honduran Military Intelligence (C-2). In general, the security forces are under-staffed and under-funded, with about 5,500 police officers for a country of 6 million inhabitants. Tegucigalpa has 1200 police for one million residents and San Pedro Sula has less than a thousand for 700,000. Honduras has one of the lowest per capita ratios of police in Latin America and the successful case closed/solved rate for criminal investigations is said to be 1.5-3 percent. By comparison Guatemala is 1.5-2 and Texas 85 percent.

Security Consultants
There are several international security firms that will perform investigations and provide other security services - including kidnap negotiations - for a price. The cost is not insignificant: anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 USD a day for an initial minimum of ten days, plus travel and expenses, for one consultant. Most security consultants are employed by insurance companies who include such services as part of their coverage.

The FBI
The FBI will offer to assist local authorities when an U.S. citizen is kidnapped or the victim of a terrorist attack, but it will become involved only at the official invitation of the host government under local law. The FBI does not have the legal authority to conduct independent investigations or to attempt to rescue victims.

Countermeasures
Prudent security measures can prevent kidnappings and other crimes. Sound practices include:

Carefully controlling family and financial information divulged by family members, including children, since kidnappers frequently rely on inside information from both witting and unwitting sources.

Keeping secret the existence of any kidnap insurance policies.

Vetting all domestic employees, including maids, cooks, drivers, guards, gardeners and bodyguards.

Increasing vigilance after the termination of any domestic employee.

Avoiding unnecessary publicity and "society page" photos of family members, since these serve as excellent sources of potential targets for criminals.

Watching and observing closely for possible vehicular surveillance.

Avoiding after-hours travel outside city of residence whenever possible.

Tint all vehicle windows. To make it difficult to identify occupants and lower the possibility of "smash and grab" thefts and opportunistic carjackings.

Being alert when at or near sites known to be frequented by the principal - or his or her close family members - especially at predictable hours.

Other factors to consider:
Dismissed and disgruntled employees pose a potential threat.

Information purchased from sources in banks and insurance companies has been used for targeting.

One family was targeted after it became known that they had received an insurance settlement.

High-risk families should consider sending college age children to school outside the country.