Archive for category Kidnap And Ransom

Maritime Security: Maersk Line, CMA CGM, And MSC Unite In Piracy Fight

Oct 6

Posted by Matt in Kidnap And Ransom, Maritime Security, Nigeria, Somalia | No Comments

The three lines also called for other steps to be taken, including creation of an effective regional coast guard and possible transit corridors to East Africa.

Meanwhile most shipowners are reluctant to have guns onboard, with Maersk repeating its opposition to armed personnel on its ships while MSC is reviewing the situation after several piracy incidents.

“We do not have armed guards at the moment but we are considering their use, to protect our crew, the ship and the cargo,” MSC assistant operations manager Pasquale Ferraro said. 

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     Interesting news. I think what we are seeing here is a consolidation of companies to help alleviate costs for such things as protection of ships.  Strength in unity and economy of scale stuff here. So with that said, will we see investments from this trio towards this ‘effective regional coast guard’? And is this coast guard going to be operated by a private company or what?

     Or perhaps they are referring to the insurance backed private navy that was discussed earlier? The insurers that Maersk works with is Chubb and Marsh.  Could these two insurers be contemplating what JLT has been proposing?

     The other story that I attached to this one, is the increase of piracy off the coast of Nigeria.  Africa Energy Intelligence is reporting on all of the security company activity there in regards to increased threats to the energy sector. The insurgency (MEND) will get stronger because piracy will soon become a source of income that will only increase the strength and capability of that insurgency. Bottom line is that they are copying what the Somali pirates are doing, and will use that money for their fight against the oil interests and government in that country.

     So protecting boats from Nigerian pirates, Jihadist pirates, and Somali pirates is slowly becoming a focus of the companies and those that insure them. Because paying ransoms only makes piracy, terrorism, and land based conflict worse by inadvertently financing those activities. Interesting stuff. -Matt

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Box trio unite in piracy fight

Sep 22, 2010

Maersk Line, CMA CGM and MSC are joining up to draw attention to the continued threat of piracy.

The carriers also intend to swap ideas about how best to tackle the problem, which is likely to worsen as the monsoon season comes to an end.

With no sign that piracy attacks are likely to recede, the three lines are hoping their combined voice will send out a clear message that more needs to be done to safeguard commercial shipping lanes.

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Afghanistan: Gunmen Kidnap Development Alternatives Inc. Contractors

Sep 26

Posted by Matt in Afghanistan, Kidnap And Ransom | No Comments

Ziayee said the woman was wearing a burqa when the party was last seen at around 10.30am travelling through the district of Chowki. He said that she was “kidnapped by the opposition” after a brief fight with local police, who gave chase into the mountains.

An official with the Kunar criminal investigation unit said local insurgents were responsible, led by a man called Mullah Basir and an associate called Qari Ruhullah. At midday, a group of 12 senior elders from the area were sent into the area where the hostages were believed to be to try to secure their release. 

*****

     I do not know any other details other than what has been reported.  My heart goes out to the friends and families, and I certainly hope the kidnapers do not do to these folks like what happened earlier this year to the medical team. DAI has not had very good luck these days and perhaps they should reevaluate their security protocols?

     If there was only one security guy for this entire party then I don’t call that very smart. Low profile is a great method of travel, but obviously this team was busted off the get go as having a British contractor in it. Perhaps someone sold them out or they got careless? Either way, tough deal and I hope they survive. -Matt

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Afghanistan: gunmen kidnap Briton and three co-workers

British woman and Afghan colleagues part of convoy intercepted by insurgents in Kunar province

Jon Boone in Kabul and James Meikle

Sunday 26 September 2010

A British woman working for an American company and at least three Afghan co-workers have been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in Afghanistan. They were in a two-vehicle convoy intercepted by insurgents in Kunar province.

Neither the Foreign Office in London nor Washington-based Development Alternatives Inc (DAI) would confirm the woman’s identity, but DAI, a contractor with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), said it was working “on a suspected abduction” and would be issuing a statement. The FO said relatives had been told and appealed to the British media not to name her.

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Kidnap And Ransom: Chinese Seek Anti-Terrorism Training For Work Abroad

Aug 11

Posted by Matt in Afghanistan, Africa, China, Kidnap And Ransom | No Comments

     More and more Chinese workers head to places like Iraq, Nigeria and Pakistan to work in mining, oil-drilling and the sale of all things “Made in China.” But there is an underbelly to this economic growth.

     Increasingly, Chinese workers abroad are being confronted with the security risks in these turbulent countries. Chinese topped the list of kidnapped foreign nationals in 2008, followed by French and Germans, according to Special Contingency Risks, a British kidnap insurance firm. 

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     The quote up top really caught my eye for several reasons.  The Chinese are everywhere out there, and they are sending folks into some dangerous places.  I have talked about their ventures into Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa in the past, and I am always on the look out for any information about their PSC or PMC related activities.

     Although with this story, it looks to me like these Chinese companies are dependent upon foreign training companies to increase their worker’s survivability out there. But as demand increase, so will the amount of companies able to provide such services.  More than likely, it will be Chinese companies who will continue to grow and probably with the assistance of foreign advisors.  At least until Chinese folks get their own industry expertise, and go it alone.

     But what intrigues me is that once a training industry takes hold, it usually evolves. Will the next step for these companies be actually providing security services?  Much like how the US market evolved with some of it’s training companies (Xe started as a training company for example).

     The other question is would the Chinese even allow a training company to evolve to that level? I think the answers to those questions will be how wars and regional instability will impact all of these really risky ventures they have taken on out there.  The Chinese are not immune to the ‘foreigner’ label, and a Somali pirate or a jihadist will find value in attacking them, just like they do with all other countries and their private ventures. The article made this point pretty clearly with the statistics presented.

    The article also mentioned the oil giant CNPC.  I would be very curious to read a briefing on any security issues they have come across.  According to the report below, they have operations in ’19 high risk regions’. I have to think that out of all of those operations, they must have some sort of Chinese security firm tasked with force protection? And yet we hear nothing about this security? Maybe they are using all local military forces or local national PSC companies? Who knows, and that is the kind of stuff I would like to read more about. -Matt

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Chinese seek anti-terrorism training for work abroad

By Coco Liu

August 10, 2010

SHANGHAI, China — Hired by Chinese businesses, Adi Talmor robs, kidnaps and does his general best to make thousands of workers suffer.

But Talmor isn’t a criminal; he’s a consultant. The 38-year-old former Israeli paratrooper instructs Chinese workers in what he calls personal security training. It’s a field that has recently emerged across China, mirroring the country’s expansion into some of the world’s more perilous markets.

In accordance with Beijing’s “go-global” strategy, state-owned enterprises have signed multibillion-dollar deals in Africa, Latin America and the Middle East. Meanwhile, trade has flourished. In 2008, China bypassed the United States to become Africa’s top trade partner.

More and more Chinese workers head to places like Iraq, Nigeria and Pakistan to work in mining, oil-drilling and the sale of all things “Made in China.” But there is an underbelly to this economic growth.

Increasingly, Chinese workers abroad are being confronted with the security risks in these turbulent countries. Chinese topped the list of kidnapped foreign nationals in 2008, followed by French and Germans, according to Special Contingency Risks, a British kidnap insurance firm.

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Kidnap And Ransom: French Tourists May Be Billed If High-risk Trips Go Wrong

Jul 28

Posted by Matt in Al Qaeda, France, Kidnap And Ransom | No Comments

     This is curious, and it also kind of ties in with my Ross Perot’s Rescue of EDS Employees In Iran post.  If you could afford it, would you pay for the services of the government to rescue a loved one, or would you seek out the services of private industry to rescue a loved one?  Because if countries like France put the cost of rescue on the individual that is taken hostage, then you would think it would be alright for that individual to choose either a private option that is cheaper or better than a state sponsored option for rescue.

     Now of course there is always the K and R industry and their approach to getting hostages released.  But for the impossible cases, where folks are political pawns or the hostage takers have no intention of negotiating, what do you do? Or how about cases where governments refuse to do a rescue because it is politically sensitive? There are lots of cases where the standard hostage negotiation tactic just does not work in the international realm, and sometimes the only chance of survival for that hostage, is rescue. One that could be potentially violent, or one that could be sneaky and non-violent.  Either way, what are the options other than letting those folks just die?

     A great example of this, is the execution of a French hostage recently by Al Qaeda.  What if the family and friends of this hostage wanted to contract the services of lets say Xe or some similar company for the rescue of their loved one? Or even contract the services of another country’s army for a rescue? All because they either did not want to pay France for a rescue operation, or they thought that Xe or another country would be a better option–both for price and for execution?  It is an interesting thought to ponder, and especially if France wants to go down this path of forcing it’s citizens to pay for rescues. -Matt

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French tourists may be billed if high-risk trips go wrong

Lizzy Davies

 5 July 2010

French tourists who run into trouble after taking unnecessary risks overseas could have to pay for their rescue and repatriation under legislation debated today by MPs in Paris.

The proposed law, put forward by a government tired of having to foot the bill, would enable the state to demand reimbursement for “all or part of the costs … of foreign rescue operations” if it deems that travellers had ventured knowingly and without “legitimate motive” into risky territory.

According to the foreign ministry, the bill is an attempt to encourage a “culture of responsibility” among French travellers at a time of frequent kidnappings, hijackings and civil instability across the world. The ministry hopes that the prospect of being saddled with paying costs such as emergency air fares home will make people think twice about venturing into territory classified as dangerous. There is no question of ransoms being included in the cost, unsurprisingly, as France insists it never pays them.

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Kidnap And Ransom: Pemex Executive Kidnapping Rattles Mexico Oil Industry

May 12

Posted by Matt in Kidnap And Ransom, Mexico | No Comments

   Between the kidnappings and the pilfering of the oil by cartels, Pemex has some issues.  Just one suggestion for Pemex, and that is if you want to retain some of that oil and stop paying ransoms, then make the investment in a competent security company to protect your stuff and people.  You can buy some pretty kick ass security for well under the 750 million dollars that you are losing every year (on top of what ever you are paying for in ransoms). -Matt

Edit: 5/20/2010 – Check out this story about former Mexican presidential candidate that was kidnapped recently.

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Pemex exec kidnapping rattles Mexico oil industry

May 11 2010

By Robert Campbell

Driving home along rough, poorly lit roads to the southern Mexican city of Villahermosa, an oil executive and his driver stopped at a roadside eatery for dinner when they were cornered by armed men.

The gunmen seized Nestor Martinez, who manages a production unit for energy monopoly Pemex in the oil-rich state of Tabasco, and sent his driver on to deliver the news he had been kidnapped, industry sources say.

Martinez was released a few days after his abduction last month but a spate of kidnappings of Pemex executives has shaken the oil industry in a country where drug cartels and organized crime gangs are increasingly spooking foreign investors.

“Everyone has heard about it but there has been no official statement. It’s really frightening,” said a Pemex employee in Villahermosa, who declined to be identified because he is not authorized to speak with reporters.

A Pemex spokesman declined to comment on the case, and the industry sources could not confirm local media reports that a large ransom was paid to free Martinez, also president of the national petroleum engineers’ association.

Mexico is in the grip of a brutal drugs war that has killed some 23,000 people, mainly traffickers and police, since President Felipe Calderon took power in late 2006. The army crackdown launched by Calderon has fanned turf wars between rival gangs and battles against security forces.

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Iraq: The Forgotten Four–South Africans Kidnapped In 2006 But Families Still Wait

May 10

Posted by Matt in Industry Talk, Iraq, Kidnap And Ransom, South Africa | 3 Comments

     Pierre Durant, her brother-in-law, believes that he is the only person still actively looking for the men, who were seized at a rogue police checkpoint in the north east of the Iraqi capital on December 10, 2006. He has travelled to Iraq eight times to hunt for clues and to attempt to put pressure on the authorities to investigate the case. At one point in the past year he managed to speak to his brother on a mobile phone, raising hopes of a resolution, but the trail has since run cold.

    Mr Durant, 42, and other close relatives of the four hostages contacted by The Times, appealed to the kidnappers to show mercy. “We as a family are not looking for justice or retribution,” Mr Durant said. “If these guys are alive then we want to negotiate for their release. If they’ve been killed then I just want their bodies back so we can try to get on with our lives.”

*****

   I was working as a security contractor with a different company back then when this happened, and at the time there were numerous kidnappings of contractors going on. Crescent Security was another company that was impacted by this type of assault.  The one thing that all of us thought about while running the roads back then was ‘Don’t trust anyone (Iraqi police officers or soldiers)’. Because at the time, the enemy was playing like they were cops or soldiers and doing all sorts of things under that cover. I still don’t trust any of these guys, and that is the reality of war zone work.

    The same thing is playing out in Afghanistan, with the Taliban or extremists dressing up like cops or soldiers and using that as a cover to get in close to their targets or use it like camouflage in a forest of chaos they create during the assault. Nothing new in the history of warfare, and today’s enemies are carrying on the tradition. It is the enemy’s version of pseudo operations, and it works.

   My other point I wanted to make is the good work and sacrifice that South Africans have given in this war.  I should certainly hope that if any leaders in the DoS or DoD is reading this, that your involvement in trying to secure the release of these men, would be much appreciated.  Contractors are the ones that put their lives on the line for you and your equipment, the least you can do is show some humanity and compassion and use some resources to find these guys and secure their release.

    Bravo to Pierre for keeping up the search and not giving up. My heart goes out to the family and friends, and I certainly hope this ends well and these men get released. -Matt

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HOSTAGES 1C 585x350 714907aIraq: The Forgotten Four South Africans Kidnapped In 2006 But Families Still Wait

Three years on, and no ransom demands have been made for Hardus Greef, left, Johann Enslin and their colleagues.

The forgotten four: kidnapped in 2006 but families still wait

May 7, 2010

Deborah Haynes

No one knows whether they are dead or alive. The families of four South African men kidnapped in Baghdad in 2006 are desperate for news of their loved ones — but fear that their plight has been forgotten, at home and in Iraq.

Unlike the case of the recently freed British hostage Peter Moore and his four guards — three died and one is missing — no one has claimed responsibility for the South African hostage taking.

No video has emerged and no ransom or political demands have been made. Instead, the families of Andre Durant, Johann Enslin, Callie Scheepers and Hardus Greef, all security guards, have endured 3½ years of unanswered questions and silence.

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Legal News: Are Pirate Ransoms Legal? Confusion Over U.S. Order

Apr 21

Posted by Matt in Kidnap And Ransom, Legal News, Somalia | No Comments

A good little article, and Jason was able to get some more input on this from the various experts and legal eagles out there, so bravo to him. This article also mentions the fact that pirates just hijacked some Thai boats some 1,200 miles from the coast of Somalia. That is pretty impressive, and this is an indicator to me that these guys are looking to expand their hunting grounds. My prediction is that we will see a slow and steady increase in piracy incidents, as their reach and as their competency in the task increases.

I posted a deal about Somali training companies and the flood of recruits for the piracy companies, and one thing to remember with this kind of business is no one joins a pirate company to not succeed. These are thinking human beings, and they are students of their industry. Their drive is profit, and of course they are going to do whatever they can do to increase their chances of success. They are like whale hunters, seeking the most profitable areas of the sea, that has the most and easiest whales/boats to take down. They are having to compete against other pirate vessels, and the game is to avoid the naval patrols and get the easy take downs before the other guy does.

And everyone wants that ransom money. That is what they are all fighting for and dream about. Wait until they figure out how to sell the goods on the boats, or pool their money to build a dock in Somalia to handle all of these ‘big fish’? lol -Matt

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Are pirate ransoms legal? Confusion over US order

By JASON STRAZIUSO

April 21, 2010

NAIROBI, Kenya — Shipping companies with U.S. interests don’t know if they are allowed to pay ransoms to Somali pirates anymore after President Obama declared them an “extraordinary threat,” even as pirates extended their reach farther than ever toward Asia, hijacking three Thai vessels, officials said Tuesday.

A total of 77 crew members were taken Sunday in the hijackings 1,200 miles (1,900 kilometers) east of Somalia in the Indian Ocean — the farthest from the Somali coast pirates have ever attacked, the EU Naval Force said. Pirates now hold 14 vessels and 305 hostages, the International Maritime Bureau said.

Pirate attacks have risen over the last year despite increased patrols by U.S. and European warships, in part because the multimillion dollar ransoms keep rising.

Kidnap And Ransom: Piracy Premiums Take A Breather But Menace Remains

Apr 7

Posted by Matt in Kidnap And Ransom, Maritime Security | 3 Comments

   This is a first.  I want to thank the insurance company Maritime and Underwater Security Consultants who sent me this excellent article, and here is a link to their website.  Their intent was to promote that their company has the most extensive insurance plans for kidnap and ransom, and that other companies fall short in their coverage.  If you are a shipping company owner or yacht owner and you are reading this right now, feel free to check these guys out–but still, buyer beware. This is not an FJ endorsement, but I will definitely provide a link for your research.

   The real story here though, is that with all of this competition between insurance companies in providing K and R insurance driving down cost, as well as the increase in protective measures on the boats, premiums are dropping.  Now of course Reuters and the authors won’t say it, but I think armed security contractors on the boats are what really give them a better rating. That, and all these navies floating around and hunting pirates have got to help as well. But what happens when these navies burn out, and their governments call them back because of the cost?

   For one, if you read further down the report, there is already some buzz in the industry about starting up a private navy to help supplement today’s naval operations.  I personally think this is a move to provide a back up plan, if a navy or two decides to bow out. Piracy is not going away anytime soon, and I wonder how long countries can keep up their deployments–both politically, and economically.

   I also took interest in this Automated Voyage Risk Assessment system, designed to analyze a boat’s protective capabilities in dangerous waters.  AVRA I hope is a complete assessment system, that includes lethal and non-lethal factors in protecting a boat. If this is one of those mechanisms developed by the Juicebox Commandoes I keep talking about, who continue to promote non-lethal as the only suitable protection for ships, then I have no respect for AVRA. -Matt

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Piracy premiums take a breather but menace remains

Thu Apr 1, 2010

By Myles Neligan and Lorraine Turner

LONDON (Reuters) – Stiff competition and moves by owners to protect ships better has taken the edge out of insurance costs after pirate attacks off Africa’s east coast created a two-year boom for specialist cover.

But analysts say the menace of piracy is far from contained, and unchecked growth in the rest of Africa, possible attacks in other key shipping channels and higher ransom demands will keep insurers interested in the long term.

While official estimates are not available, brokers reckon sales of so-called marine kidnap and ransom (K&R) insurance have soared to about $100 million (66 million pounds) a year since 2008, when the product was first developed in response to an upsurge of vessel seizures and ransom demands by Somali gangs.

But the cover now costs less than it did two years ago, reflecting mounting competitive pressure as more insurers enter the fast-growing market.

The marine K&R market is currently dominated by six players, led by Bermuda-based Hiscox (HSX.L) and Travelers (TRV.N) of the U.S., up from just three when the product first became available, and more are expected to join.

“There’s an increase in supply and the price is going down,” said Sean Woollerson of insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson (JLT.L).

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Kidnap And Ransom: Family Rejoices At Release Of Contractor Issa Salomi In Iraq

Mar 28

Posted by Matt in Industry Talk, Iraq, Kidnap And Ransom | No Comments

   Excellent news and I am glad this ended well for the family and Issa. -Matt

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Family rejoices at release of contractor in Iraq

By ELLIOT SPAGAT

March 28, 2010

SAN DIEGO — The family of an Iraqi-American contractor said to have been kidnapped in Baghdad in January rejoiced Saturday over his release, saying they did not believe they would see him alive again.

Issa Salomi, 60, spoke with his 27-year-old son Roger Friday and told him that memories of the birth of the oldest of his four boys sustained him during captivity, said Vivian Tilley, a niece.

A few hours later, Salomi called his wife of 30 years, Muna Salomi, and asked for her homemade tabbouleh when he arrived home.

“I was screaming,” Muna Salomi said in interview Saturday. “Really, I didn’t think he’d be alive … I can’t wait to hug him and put him in my arms.”

A Shiite extremist group claimed responsibility for the Jan. 23 kidnapping and posted a video online that showed a man wearing military fatigues, reading a list demands for the release of militants, the prosecution of Blackwater guards and an immediate U.S. troop withdrawal.

A Pentagon statement Saturday said only that Salomi was back under military control, but gave no details on his disappearance or return. The statement said the circumstances of the case are under investigation.

Muna Salomi was told to be prepared to reunite with her husband within the next week at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio. She, like other family members, said she didn’t know the circumstances of his abduction, captivity or release.

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Haiti: Kidnappings And Sexual Assaults On The Rise, And How ‘Shock Doctrine’ Fear Mongering Is Hurting Haitians

Mar 27

Posted by Matt in Disaster Response, Haiti, Kidnap And Ransom | 1 Comment

   Thanks to Matt for sending me this.  My question on all of this, is where is the Main Stream Media? I mean they were all over Haiti when it was cool and made for great coverage. Disaster relief is a marathon, not a short race, and there are stories that are just not getting the coverage they need.  Like the thousands of prisoners that escaped, and the slow and steady increase of crime or assaults. By now, we should have had any deficiencies in security corrected–either with more UN or Haitian police, or with private security.  There is plenty of money for such things, and there is absolutely no excuse for not implementing effective security solutions for the Haiti.

   I also think that this stupid book on ‘disaster capitalism’  called Shock Doctrine by Naomi Klein, is actually making things worse for the Haitians. Aid companies now think that contracting security or private industry is somehow a bad thing, and that paying for such things is ‘disaster capitalism’.

    Meanwhile, their employees on the ground are getting kidnapped or sexually assaulted, all because they are afraid that contracting security would offend their donors.  How totally irresponsible and pathetic is that? I also think it is irresponsible of those in the media who have promoted such things, because now you are helping the criminals of Haiti with your reportage. And what really kills me is that none of these aid organizations or main stream media groups get the label of disaster capitalists?

    To me, their entire existence depends upon disasters, and they certainly need them in order to get donations or viewership.  Make another dollar off the suffering of Haitians…. and you guys label my industry as disaster capitalists?  Pfffft.  At least my industry does something other than making media spectacles out of that suffering, or begging for money to support massive aid organizations.

   Below, I also posted the excellent commentary by the IPOA in regards to this ‘Shock Doctrine’ fear mongering that the Juice Box Commandos out there have been spewing. Bravo to JJ Messner and company for calling it the way they see it. The ideas of Naomi are contributing to more suffering in Haiti, and it needs to be put in check. Maybe I should start a Facebook page called ‘The Shock Doctrine Fear Mongering Club–Support Crime And Instability In Haiti!!’. -Matt

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UN: Kidnappers release Belgian taken in Haiti

By MIKE MELIA

Fri Mar 26, 2010

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Kidnappers have released a Belgian businessman who was grabbed as he drove through Haiti’s capital, a U.N. police official said Friday.

Philippe Van Reybrouck, a longtime Haiti resident, had been in captivity for about 24 hours and was freed in good condition Thursday after a ransom was paid, said Michel Martin, the Canadian chief of the U.N.’s criminal intelligence unit in Haiti.

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