USA anti-kidnapping expert has been kidnapped in mexico

[SmokeyTheBear]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081216/...ican_kidnapped

MEXICO CITY ? A U.S. anti-kidnapping expert was abducted by gunmen in northern Mexico last week, a sign of just how bold this nation's kidnapping gangs have become.

U.S. security consultant Felix Batista ? who claims to have helped resolve nearly 100 kidnap and ransom cases ? was in Saltillo in Coahuila state to offer advice on how to confront abductions for ransom when he himself was seized, local authorities said.

Unknown assailants grabbed him on Dec. 10, said Charlie LeBlanc, the president of the Houston, Texas-based security firm ASI Global LLC., where Batista is a consultant.

"We have notified the FBI and Mexican authorities, and they are working on the case," LeBlanc said Monday. "What we are doing is we're offering our support to the family and hoping for the best."

The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said it would not comment on the case, and LeBlanc declined to say whether the kidnappers had demanded a ransom.

LeBlanc said Batista had his own security business and that "he was in Mexico for business that wasn't associated with our company."

"Part of that could be or may involve negotiations with kidnappers," Leblanc said. ASI Global's Web site advertises "kidnap and ransom response" and says the company has worked for major insurance companies.

A woman who answered a phone number listed under Batista's name in Miami said she did not wish to comment on the case.

Batista was frequently cited as an anti-kidnapping expert at conferences and in the news media.

A story in the December issue of the trade magazine Security Management describes how Batista organized relatives' response to a kidnapping in Mexico, even cooking the family meals at times. He advised the family during monthslong negotiations that eventually reduced the ransom request to about a third of the original amount the kidnappers had demanded. The victim was eventually released.

Local news media reported that Batista is 55, but his age was not included in his professional profile on the ASI Global Web site.

Kidnapping has become a rising problem in Mexico, but attacks on U.S. anti-crime consultants have largely been the stuff of movies. The seizure seems to echo the plot of a 2004 movie, "Man on Fire," in which Denzel Washington played a U.S. security consultant who takes on Mexican kidnappers and is abducted himself.

A series of high-profile kidnappings in which the victims were later found dead has sparked outrage in Mexico. In the past year, the bodies of the daughter of Mexico's former sports commissioner and the son of a prominent businessman have been found.

Non-governmental groups claim Mexico has one of the world's highest kidnapping rates, surpassing Colombia.

Earlier this year, more than 100,000 people marched through Mexico City to protest rising crime. Many people carried pictures of kidnapped relatives.

Coahuila Gov. Humberto Moreira set off a nationwide controversy by proposing to reinstate the death penalty for kidnappers who kill their victims.

On Monday, Moreira refused to talk about Batista's kidnapping and said only that "it is one of so many kidnappings and like all of them it is deplorable."

Coahuila state law enforcement officials who were not authorized to be quoted by name said Batista had been giving talks to local police officials and businessmen on how to prevent or avoid kidnappings.

They said he apparently was snatched from a street outside a restaurant.

The Web profile of Batista ? later removed from ASI's site ? described him as "the primary case officer for all cases throughout the Latin American region."

The site said Batista was a former U.S. Army major who is "known for conducting in-depth threat assessments, the successful resolution of nearly 100 kidnap and ransom cases (many on behalf of major insurance carriers) and investigations."

The company denied local news reports that Batista was a former FBI agent, and warned those reports could put his life at risk.

[INever]

That;s funny.

[SmokeyTheBear]

on the bright side at least he isnt an anti-murder expert or an anti-getting molested by an elephant expert

[NickB.]

DAMN LOL funny and horrible at the same time

[jaYMan]

Doh! That sucks ;/

[spacedog]

what an asshat.. So much for his self proclaimed expert theory

[Donfoolio]

when they are done with him he will be an expert on loose sphincters

[grumpy]

its a glitch. .

[crockett]

I guess he better be good at his job.

[John-ACWM]

And the kidnappers played the hostage 'Isn't it ironic'

[asianseekerz]

what the stupid expert guy!!!!!!

[clickhappy]

And my friends in San Diego kept bugging me to go see Mexico.
no thanks

[jmcb420]

lol thats ironic

[pornguy]

"A series of high-profile kidnappings in which the victims were later found dead has sparked outrage in Mexico. In the past year, the bodies of the daughter of Mexico's former sports commissioner and the son of a prominent businessman have been found."


Good thing they added in the part about all the Chiefs of Police that have been killed. The Chiefs of the jails that have been killed and all those important people.


IN any event, this sounds fishy. If you look at the recent history of the kidnappings in Mexico, this is SOOOOO out of character. And to have done this soooo easily??? Hrm.. Sounds like a group of people here in Mexico may really want that death penalty and this makes a great statement for it.

[Chicks Delivery]

LOL.... ironic news...

[A-n-D-r-E-S]

Good thing he is an expert!

[Vicious_B]

Originally Posted by pornguy

"A series of high-profile kidnappings in which the victims were later found dead has sparked outrage in Mexico. In the past year, the bodies of the daughter of Mexico's former sports commissioner and the son of a prominent businessman have been found."


Good thing they added in the part about all the Chiefs of Police that have been killed. The Chiefs of the jails that have been killed and all those important people.


IN any event, this sounds fishy. If you look at the recent history of the kidnappings in Mexico, this is SOOOOO out of character. And to have done this soooo easily??? Hrm.. Sounds like a group of people here in Mexico may really want that death penalty and this makes a great statement for it.

I think that if anything someone is trying to make a statement by this particular kidnapping.

[Helix]

Bummer....that's not going to look good on the resume.

[EscortBiz]

only in mexico lol

[EscortBiz]

Originally Posted by pornguy

"A series of high-profile kidnappings in which the victims were later found dead has sparked outrage in Mexico. In the past year, the bodies of the daughter of Mexico's former sports commissioner and the son of a prominent businessman have been found."


Good thing they added in the part about all the Chiefs of Police that have been killed. The Chiefs of the jails that have been killed and all those important people.


IN any event, this sounds fishy. If you look at the recent history of the kidnappings in Mexico, this is SOOOOO out of character. And to have done this soooo easily??? Hrm.. Sounds like a group of people here in Mexico may really want that death penalty and this makes a great statement for it.

the zetas run mexico and its sad, they killed the new police chief hours after his big announcement, wake up stop dreaming thats its all glitz and glory there just because you havent been hurt yet

[fujiko]

though its not funny.. I just couldnt help but laugh.

[mrwilson]

lol sad but funny, sucks for him i guess..lol

[woj]

Originally Posted by jmcb420

lol thats ironic

indeed

[Andy CHOOPA]

Perhaps this is part of his master plan, to truly understand kidnapping.

[SilentKnight]

Remember:

An amateur built the Ark.

An expert built the Titanic.

[HomerSimpson]

maybe he wanted to see the other side of the kidnapping...

[Jman]

Mexico city is a fascinating place to go... SOOOOO Many people.

[gooddomains]

that's is really bad

[seeandsee]

he can rescue him self

[nikki99]

the irony