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The number of reported kidnappings involving the children of wealthy families in Honduras increased from three in 2005 to 18 during the first eight months of 2006. Despite a government crackdown on crime, a lasting solution to the problem is unlikely -- leaving potential victims to fend for themselves.
In response to the increase in kidnappings for ransom and other crimes in Honduras, President Manuel Zelaya Rosales launched Operation Thunder on Aug. 30, increasing the number of police and military troops in the streets and conducting raids against suspected criminals. The crackdown is occurring in Honduras' main cities, including Tegucigalpa, the capital, as well as San Pedro Sula, La Ceiba, Tocoa, Choluteca, El Progreso, Danli, Juticalpa and Catacamas. In Tegucigalpa, authorities flooded the streets with 3,000 additional military and police personnel, resulting in 172 arrests in the first 12 hours and 1,600 in the first week. Many weapons also have been seized.
So far, the kidnappers have mainly targeted the children of wealthy Hondurans and wealthy dual U.S.-Honduran citizens. Although not targeted for political reasons, foreigners, including Americans, have been abducted in several cases simply because they appear wealthier than the average Honduran. Abducting an American or a citizen from another powerful country, however, can be more trouble than it is worth because such an act is likely to result in intervention from the FBI, CIA or the equivalent of those bodies in the victim's country.
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