Getting Kidnapped in Costa Rica Remains Affordable! :-)

Even Phoenix, Arizona in the USA is “upfront about the roughly 370 kidnappings each year linked to criminal smuggling gangs” which is a zillion times higher than anything we can see in Costa Rica…

But that’s nothing compared to the world’s most dangerous kidnapping trouble-spots like Colombia and Mexico where US$30 million ransoms have been demanded.

The cost of living globally has risen quite dramatically however you’ll be relieved to know, he said with tongue-in-cheek 🙂 that getting kidnapped in Costa Rica remains very affordable.

As an example, on the 27th November 2010 two desperate men kidnapped another Costa Rican man in Aserrí, San Jose and demanded a ransom payment of ¢20,000 to free the victim.

At today’s exchange rate that’s exactly US$40 and it was at this time that the Costa Rican police sprang into action and one hour after receiving the money, the kidnappers released the victim unharmed and later the same day, both kidnappers were arrested.

In a remarkably astute analysis of the criminal mind, the Attorney General Jorge Chavarría said that: “Behind this type of kidnapping there could be a drug dependency problem”.

He added wisely that those responsible for this kind of crime nearly always come from the lower socio-economic classes and said that he “will be tough on the kidnappers”.

If they had been professional middle-class kidnappers they would undoubtedly have asked for at least ten times as much (US$400) and might even accept credit cards?

A dozen New York City police officers are all drinking a few brews in their favourite Irish watering hole?

Another cop bursts into the bar screaming…

“Did you see the news? Terrorists have kidnapped George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and Dick Cheney and they are asking for a $10 million ransom. Otherwise they are going to douse them with gasoline and set them on fire. We are going from bar to bar, taking up a collection.”

The most senior police officer asks, “How much is everyone giving, on average?”

“About a gallon!”

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Written by Scott Oliver, author of 1. Costa Rica Real Estate Scams & How To Avoid Them, 2. How To Buy Costa Rica Real Estate Without Losing Your Camisa, and 3. Costa Rica’s Guide To Making Money Offshore.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.