2011-08-19

By Deborah Ritchie

Three employees of a company contracted by Colombia's state-run oil company have been kidnapped by an armed group in the Santander department of Colombia.

Although local authorities have asserted that the kidnapping was orchestrated by a local criminal group known to conduct extortions, suspicion falls on the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
Five oil workers kidnapped by the FARC in July and later released in August. The four Chinese oil workers taken subsequently by the same group are still being held.

According to risk consultancy, Red24, kidnappings increased by 20% in the first six months of 2011, with at least 116 people reportedly abducted thus far. At least 282 people were kidnapped countrywide in 2010, with more than half of those reportedly victims of kidnap for ransom, they said, with the majority of incidents involving the abduction of locals, but also foreign nationals.

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