Prime Defence International - Kidnap, Ransom, Hostage & Extortion Solutions

The highest risk area in the world is South America and Columbia in particular. Columbia has the record for the most kidnappings and the highest ransom demands. For many criminals kidnapping is a business, and kidnappings in Columbia are often professional, well-planned operations lasting considerable periods of time.

In the last eight years, the number of kidnappings around the world has increased by 70%, reports the British insurance company Hiscox. According to recent reports “the most realistic estimate is between 20,000 and 30,000 kidnappings every year." And, the experts note, Latin America accounts for a higher proportion of this figure than any other region of the world.

Hiscox and International Risk Solutions list Colombia, Brazil and Mexico among the countries where the risk of being abducted is greatest. In Colombia alone, 1,500 people are currently victims. (This is the official figure-the actual number is probably much higher, since many cases go unreported). These numbers become even more terrifying if one takes into account figures supplied by Fundación País Libre, a Colombian organization that works to combat kidnapping, indicating that 141 of those abducted are Children.

About 200 adult expatriates have been kidnapped in the Niger Delta since the start of 2006 and 15 are still being held by various armed groups. Most abductions are for ransom although a few have been politically motivated.

Several armed groups in the Niger Delta are campaigning for "resource control" or the right of impoverished local communities to gain greater control over oil revenues from their lands. These groups have sometimes kidnapped oil workers in the name of the struggle for resource control. But abductions have become more and more frequent as copycat kidnappers have taken advantage of the breakdown of law and order in the delta to extort hefty ransoms.

An estimated 15,000 to 20,000 people are kidnapped each year

The increasing sophistication of corporate security systems may be contributing to an increase in these types of crimes. One theory is that the increased sophistication of corporate security systems is much tougher to crack, and that kidnapping is an effective way to obtain the knowledge to complete the crime.

A government handbook for employees residing overseas has the following description of the need for K & R insurance:

Unfortunately, kidnapping has become a major security issue in several countries outside of North America. In the last several years, statistics have shown an escalation of incidents in Italy, the Philippines, Columbia, Pakistan, and Brazil. Obviously, no one plans on being victimized by this sort of criminal activity. But when it does occur, the financial fallout can be overwhelming to the families involved.

Consider the following scenario: An executive in a foreign country leaving his office is suddenly confronted by three men, each with firearms. He is forced into a vehicle, which quickly flees from the scene. A ransom for his release is set at US$1,000,000. The ransom is paid in full and he is released within 30 days. Fortunately for his family, this gentleman had an insurance policy that specifically covered such an occurrence. This gentleman had also gone through Prime Defence’s Hostile Awareness Training which helped him deal with the difficult situation and as a result, neither he nor his family suffered any significant emotional or financial loss as a result.

Companies, their key executives and families are frequent targets for extortion

Without diluting the importance of (coverage) factors, the primary consideration for any "Kidnap and Ransom" policy still lies in the expertise that will be utilized for hostage retrieval. The negotiating team is probably more important than the policy. The policy should provide for both an experienced negotiator and security team to ensure that the hostage is returned unharmed.

Prime Defence's security operations are built on sound intelligence. Our analysis is enriched by deep operational experience. By understanding the issues, we provide solutions that are relevant and proportionate to the threats you face. The bond between analysis and operations defines our approach.

Our practice expedites client security solutions and rapidly mitigates crises. Our collective expertise enables us to provide virtually all security services any individual or organization may need. No other company can supply security resources such as Prime Defence from forensic accounting and Crisis Management to high-risk protection and employee screening to due diligence and security training on a large scale.

We teach individuals how to avoid danger at home and abroad, and we sharpen the skills of security professionals. Training can take place at your site of operations or at the Prime Defence training facility in Europe and soon in our new dedicated operations/ training centre in the Middle East. These facilities feature classrooms, small arms ranges, defensive driving courses, and defensive tactics training areas.

Prime Defence International is a British company discreetly headquartered in London's Mayfair. We have offices located in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, India, Bangladesh, Kenya, Somalia, South Africa, USA and Malaysia. We provide a wide range of very specialised security & protection services on an emergency, standby or contract basis. We can respond to a pending or immediate crisis situation with the expertise and resources necessary to resolve any situation. In the past there has been an increase in terrorist and criminal activities especially bombings, kidnapping, murders and extortion against companies or employees working or expanding within many unstable countries. These countries have been forced to become accustomed to this volatile environment due to a progressive increase of cultural or political unrest.

Prime Defence is fast becoming a leading name in the international security World as few other companies can match the combined knowledge, diversified skills, network, capability and resources that Prime Defence can bring to bear on behalf of its clients.

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