Venezuela Kidnappings Rose 52 Percent in 2008, El Nacional Says

Venezuelan kidnappings rose 52 percent in 2008 from a year earlier, El Nacional reported. The number of kidnapping cases increased to 537 last year from 353 in 2007, the Caracas-based daily said, citing Interior Ministry figures. Zulia state on Venezuela’s western border with Colombia ranked first in kidnappings among states, El Nacional said. The central part of the country that includes Caracas led all other areas, El Nacional said. Of the cases, 106 ended in a ransom payment, there were 80 rescues by authorities and 21 victims were murdered, the newspaper said. As of Dec. 15, 116 people remained sequestered, El Nacional said, citing official figures. In most of the remaining cases, the victims were released as a result of pressure by the police, the daily said. The National Assembly unanimously approved a law addressing kidnapping, extortion and kidnapping-related crimes on Aug. 15, El Nacional said. The statute hasn’t been implemented by the executive branch because of technical and constitutional flaws, the newspaper said, citing people at the Interior Ministry.