The Business of Kidnap for Ransom

Abstract

Synopsis: Kidnapping for ransom is examined as a business. This perspective draws attention to the need for an organization to exist to perpetrate the crime on a repetitive basis, whilst maintaining the ability to launder the money over a long period of time. The distinction is drawn between independent operators that kidnap for money and small groups that have access to a kidnapping network (or syndicate). Independent operators are rarely likely to kidnap for ransom, choosing only to ransom for small amounts of cash. These offenders are often petty criminals, although the motive behind the kidnapping is monetary gain, the intention is not to build a business empire. In contrast, small groups that kidnap with the intention of selling the hostage to a larger group or simply ransoming the hostage themselves are in effect developing a business.

The Social Organization of Violence Toward Hostages

“…Others have also described a varying degree of less aggressive behavior when being held hostage by terrorist or insurgent groups (Clutterbuck, 1978;Auerbach, 1998;Griffiths 2003). Moreover, this notion is consistent with the view that kidnapping for ransom could be considered a business, in which kidnappers move from one kidnapping to another to sustain an income (Briggs, 2001;Moor & Remijnse, 2008;Moor & Zumpolle, 2001;Phillips, 2009). Taken as a whole, these limited studies suggest that there is a variation in how hostages are treated by differing types of groups.…”

“…They argued that professional groups who use kidnapping as a source of income are more likely to return the hostage alive because they wish to enhance their future credibility that hostages will be released on payment of a ransom. Moreover, this notion is consistent with the view that kidnapping for ransom could be considered a business, in which kidnappers move from one kidnapping to another to sustain an income (Briggs, 2001; Moor & Remijnse, 2008; Moor & Zumpolle, 2001; Phillips, 2009). Nevertheless, Bolz et al suggest that political terrorists, while also likely to release their hostage, were more likely to kill than criminal groups.…”

“…Previous research suggests that individuals who are kidnapped and then held for ransom often suffer from harsh and degrading treatment at the hands of different types of kidnappers during captivity (Alexander & Klein, 2008; Auerbach, 1998; Favaro, Degortes, Colombo, & Santonastaso, 2000; Fletcher, 1996; Griffiths, 2003; Harkis, 1986; Marongiu & Clarke, 2008; Navia & Ossa, 2003). In fact, these observations imply that violence toward a hostage may be a product of the social organization of the group, as reflected by the type of group holding the victim (see Phillips, 2009). However, there has been little investigation of which types of kidnappers are likely to seriously injure or kill their hostage.…”

On the Radicalization Process

“…Instead, what Atran calls a “Hydra‐headed network” is much more likely to be the norm . Mullins illustrates the evolving structure of such networks and how they can develop into something that resembles a business when they involve frequent kidnaping activities, as described by Mullins and Phillips .…”

How Do Kidnappers Kill Hostages? A Comparison of Terrorist and Criminal Groups

“…The literature suggests that kidnappers can be distinguished by criminal or radical ideology (Auerbach, 1998; Bolz et al, 2002; Clutterbuck, 1978; Marongiu & Clarke, 2008; Ugarte, 2008; Van Zandt, 1993; Wright, 2009). In addition, Phillips (2009) indicates that kidnappers can also be differentiated according to their level of organization and ability to kidnap and hold multiple hostages on different occasions. Hence, three categories of kidnappers who ransom were identified: organized, common, and radical.…”