ATLAS Risk Cover Brokerage | Audit | Risk Management
ATLAS
2026-01-09 18:49:08
A threat that won't vanish. It only It only takes a different shape...
A risk that is still poorly understood
Kidnapping remains one of the risks that organisations find most difficult to assess. Often perceived as rare, distant or confined to so-called "extreme" areas, it is now a much more widespread and opportunistic reality.
Available data shows that kidnapping is not a static phenomenon. It evolves in step with security crises, criminal economies and international travel patterns. For businesses, humanitarian NGOs, business travellers and journalists, it now constitutes an operational risk in its own right, on a par with health, political and cyber risks.
What recent data shows
The Kidnap & Ransom Report – Q2 2025 published by AKE International confirms several underlying trends, backed up by precise figures.
Globally, AKE has recorded more than 600 cases of kidnapping and related abductions:
The report also highlights an increase in cases targeting specific profiles in Europe, particularly in France, linked to the crypto-asset sector and entrepreneurship.
· Underestimating the risk because the area is considered "familiar" or "usual".
· Confusing K&R insurance with prevention strategy.
· Lack of clear instructions for families and field teams.
· Lack of psychological preparation for exposed employees.
· Rushed decisions in the first few hours following a kidnapping.
Operating methods undergoing radical change
Modern kidnapping is not always lengthy or spectacular. Cross-analyses by risk intelligence specialists show a clear evolution in practices.
Kidnappings are increasingly:
· rapid and opportunistic,
· organised by structured criminal groups or hybrid armed actors,
· linked to insufficiently prepared business travel,
· associated with rapid ransom demands, increasingly in crypto-assets.
This acceleration significantly reduces the time available for negotiations and the decision-making window for families, employers and crisis management teams. It also complicates early risk detection in the field.
Who is really at risk?
Contrary to popular belief, kidnap and ransom risk does not only affect multinational executives.
Cross-referenced data from AKE, Control Risks and GardaWorld shows that the following groups are particularly exposed:
The determining factor is not only the country, but also the profile, visibility, travel habits and level of preparedness.
The motivations of kidnappers
Motivations vary greatly from region to region, but several dominant patterns emerge:
These hybrid motivations explain the growing complexity of crisis situations.
Prevention: an often underutilised lever
The majority of incidents analysed reveal avoidable flaws: lack of safety briefings, predictable itineraries, uncontrolled use of social media, or ignorance of local dynamics.
An effective prevention strategy is based on several complementary pillars that help to avoid blind spots:
· detailed analysis of the country context and travel areas,
· raising awareness among employees and field teams,
· clear protocols in the event of an incident or suspicion,
· coordination between security, HR, management and insurers.
☞ Analysis of country risk and travel areas before each assignment.
☞ Systematic security briefing for employees and travellers.
☞ Variability of itineraries, schedules and habits.
☞ Controlled use of social media and public communications.
☞ Clear coordination between security, HR, management and insurers.
☞ Well-known and tested alert and crisis management procedures.
Kidnap & Ransom insurance: a tool, not a magic remedy
Kidnap & Ransom cover is often misunderstood. It is not limited to the reimbursement of a ransom.
When properly structured, it provides:
· immediate access to consultants specialising in crisis management,
· strategic support during negotiations,
· psychological and post-incident assistance,
· financial protection for the organisation.
However, it only makes sense if it is part of a comprehensive risk management and duty of care approach.
Towards a more mature approach to K&R risk
Kidnapping is not about to disappear, far from it. On the contrary, data shows that it adapts to economic, technological and geopolitical contexts.
For organisations, the challenge is not to fuel fear, but to develop a clear-headed, proportionate and operational response.
Integrating Kidnap & Ransom risk into a comprehensive policy for managing travel and sensitive operations means accepting an uncomfortable but necessary reality: the risk exists, whether we acknowledge it or not.
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