AMERICAS

1. (PERU, 26/01/19) Missing American citizen possibly the victim of kidnapping

According to media reports, the disappearance of an American citizen of Latino origin in Cusco is being investigated as a possible kidnapping. Carla Valpeoz went missing between 4 and 12 December after she departed the Peruvian capital, Lima, towards Cusco. The woman was last seen by two local workers who gave her directions to the archaeological site of Machu Pichu. Search operations took place for serval days in the area, as the authorities believed she could have suffered an accident, but were unsuccessful. FULL ARTICLE

EUROPE

2. (DENMARK, 26/01/19) Lebanese mafia members arrested over kidnapping plot

Yasser Abou-Chaker, the younger brother of one of Berlin’s most notorious Arab mafia bosses has been arrested in Denmark on suspicion of plotting to kidnap the children of a famous German-Tunisian rapper. His elder brother and group leader Arafat Abou-Chaker, was arrested in Berlin last week. German authorities are now seeking the extradition of both suspects. According to investigators, the brothers were travelling through Europe, looking for people to carry out the kidnapping. This was apparently an act of revenge after the rapper cut ties with the Abou-Chaker family in March last year. The Abou-Chaker clan is among 10 Lebanese families involved in organized crime in Berlin. FULL ARTICLE

AFRICA

3. (MALI, 23/01/19) Nigeria finds over 20,000 kidnapped Nigerian women in Mali

Nigeria’s anti-trafficking agency said it found between 20,000 and 45,000 missing Nigerian women in southern Mali, many of whom had been sold as sex slaves. The agency’s director said the women, who mostly came from rural areas of six different states in Nigeria, had been tricked into going to Mali to get jobs or had been abducted in different circumstances. FULL ARTICLE

4. (MOZAMBIQUE, 26/01/19) Indian businessman kidnapped in Maxixe

An Indian businessman living in Mozambique was abducted in the city of Maxixe, Inhambane province, on the night of 25 January, from commercial establishment along the national road number 1. The kidnapping was carried out by a group of seven armed individuals, who invaded the commercial establishment, shot at the businessman’s security escorts, and forced the victim into a vehicle with no license plates. At the moment of the attack, the businessman was in the company of another man, who was shot by the kidnappers while resisting the abduction. The Mozambican police have said they believe the primary target was the injured victim, who is also a businessman. Investigations are ongoing. FULL ARTICLE

ASIA

5. (PAKISTAN, 28/01/19) Lahore doctor kidnapped and killed by friends

An ophthalmologist was found dead two days after he went missing in Lahore. Dr Waseem Ali was reported missing on 22 January after he left the private hospital where he was working. His body was found by the police on 24 January in a drainage line in the Shera Kot area. Investigations later revealed that the crime had been committed by three of the victim’s friends, who knew the doctor had some savings to establish his own clinic. The men killed Ali after extorting Rs4million (almost USD 29,000) from him. The three suspects were arrested on 27 January. FULL ARTICLE (1)