Hazelwood Street Consultants - Kidnap for Ransom and Extortion: Better Organized - More Dangerous Places

MIAMI, July 30, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Hazelwood Street Consultants, LLC, a global specialist in resolving kidnap-for-ransom and extortion cases for members of Lloyd's of London, multi-national corporations and private families, has released its Semi-Annual Kidnap for Ransom and Extortion Assessment of 229 countries – HIGHLIGHTING THE 24 MOST DANGEROUS COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD FOR Kidnapping for Ransom and Extortion.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140730/131921

"In closely analyzing intelligence relating to an estimated thirty thousand Kidnap for Ransom and Extortion incidents, twenty-four (24) countries have now been placed in the most dangerous category where the threat of Kidnapping for Ransom and Extortion is considered very high. Daily or nearly daily kidnappings and extortions are being recorded, and all but essential travel there is ill-advised," is the principal conclusion of the Assessment.

The list has expanded as criminal groups have begun to share victims with ideological actors in order to finance global terror as well as organized crime. The Assessment concludes that "The increasing fusion of ideological actors with common criminals, both seeking and dividing money for their activities, is producing marked spikes in Kidnapping for Ransom and Extortion in areas formerly though to be immune from such events. Indeed, the ideologues are training criminal organizations; refining their Kidnapping for Ransom and Extortion skills." Click here for full report.

Ambassador Cresencio Arcos, Chairman of Hazelwood Street and former acting United States Assistant Secretary of both Departments of Homeland Security and State said: "Kidnapping is like a cancer - it appears suppressed in one location, only to crop up in another. No part of the world can be declared definitively safe from the threat. Our mission is to secure the safe release of victims. Our Assessment will hopefully help keep people from harm's way."

We have also identified the growing relationship between terrorist organizations and the criminal organizations who traditionally finance their drug, human trafficking and weapons smuggling operations with KRE.

Twenty-five (25) countries fall into a category just below the worst, wherein the threat of Kidnap for Ransom and Extortion is high. The situation there is approaching alarming levels, and Kidnap for Ransom and Extortion events occur frequently (weekly or several times a week) and are an acknowledged concern for the local government.

The Assessment concludes that "The countries where Kidnap for Ransom and Extortion is the most endemic and occurs in the highest volumes are typically those in which wealthy locals are the primary victims. But, VISITORS BEWARE. Common factors include widespread police or government actor corruption and involvement in the event, as well as sheer incompetence in reporting; let alone adequately managing the problem as we often see in countries like Mexico and Nigeria."

"There is a statistically significant correlation between high incidences of Kidnap for Ransom and Extortion and law enforcement or government corruption, with the participation or some form of complicity by these same groups."

View full report at:  http://inform.hazelwoodstreet.com/semi-annual-world-kidnap-for-ransom-and-extortion-assessment-july-30-2014/

Multi-lingual (English, Spanish, Portuguese) interviews available.

CONTACT: Bruce Kaplan
Hazelwood Street Consultants
Phone +1-305-321-0021
[email protected]

SOURCE Hazelwood Street Consultants, LLC