Kidnappings Rise 18.5% From 1995
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
Colombia, already the undisputed kidnapping capital of the world, saw an 18.5% rise in the number of reported abductions in 1996--one every six hours and 20 minutes, police officials said. But one Western defense official believes that the real number of kidnappings may be four times higher than the 1,375 cases officially reported, as families prefer to negotiate privately for their loved ones than risk a botched rescue by the authorities.
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