A total of 146 Colombians and three foreigners were kidnapped in the country in the first half of this year, the government’s anti-kidnapping agency said Wednesday.
According to statistics revealed by Fondelibertad, the number of kidnappings is 25% higher than in the same period last year.
The three foreigners; one American, one Swiss and one Japanese, are no longer being held. Of the Colombians who were kidnapped, 20 are still in captivity.
In 110 kidnapping cases the kidnappers tried to extort the victims’ family for ransom.
Of the kidnappings, 77 were committed by ordinary criminals, 35 by guerrilla group the FARC, 21 by guerrilla group ELN, and 16 by paramilitary groups.