Cross-border kidnappings on the rise

Posted: Jan 15, 2009 04:54 PM PST
Updated: Jan 17, 2009 10:44 AM PST

By Angela Kocherga

EL PASO -- Kidnappings are on the rise in Mexico, especially in border cities like Juarez that are coping with a surge in violent crime. Now, there's growing concern in the U.S. kidnappers might go after targets north of the Rio Grande.


El Paso private investigator J.J. Armes said he's getting more calls for his services. "We have a bunch of clients out there, here in the U.S. and in Mexico that are being protected," he said, adding many are worried about their safety in Juarez, where extortion is rampant.

Armes partnet, security equipment dealer Jay J. Armes III, explained what some business owners in Juarez may be going through. "Either you pay us $2,500 a week or we'll burn your restaurant down," he said reenacting an hypothetical incident.

Still, technology is now playing a factor in capturing extortionists. Armes III said many victims are managing to catch the extortionists on tape.

Armes said many clients fear being kidnapped. Many don't live in Mexico. "I've worked on kidnappings where they've kidnapped the people in the U.S. and taken them to Juarez," said Armes, adding he's recently worked on 14 abductions involving Americans.

Local law enforcement officials said they have seen similar cases but they have not witnessed a major increase in such cases.

"We know that we've had kidnappings over here where individuals related to the drug business have been taken to Juarez," said Richard Wiles, the newly-elected sheriff in El Paso County.

Although cross-border kidnappings may not be rampant, they are extremely hard to track, said Armes. "Did they go to Juarez and disappear? Were they taken from El Paso across the bridge? You just don't know. It's hard to get a handle on just how big the problem is."

FBI officials said cross-border kidnapping are also rising in other U.S. cities along the border. Investigators in San Diego investigated several cases last year involving Americans taken to Tijuana, Mexico by force.

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