QUITO, March 13 (NNN-PRENSA LATINA) — Ecuador´s Anti-Kidnapping and Extortion Police Unit (UNASE) on Sunday reported both kidnapping and extortion are nowadays most-used practices by hitmen or criminal groups in Ecuador.
According to UNASE, the extortion cases is estimated to have surged by 300% compared to previous years.
UNASE indicated that on March 2, in just two days, four kidnapping victims were rescued in the so-called Zone 8, which includes Guayaquil, Duran and Samborondon municipalities.
The victims alleged the extortionists called for sums of money up to US$50,000 to free the kidnapped people.
Ecuador´s Alliance of Organizations for Human Rights recently warned about the state’s neglection in cracking down on violence and insecurity. — NNN-PRENSA LATINA
