Colombia’s anti-kidnapping unit on Wednesday stated that kidnapping is on the decline, and that there are at present 63 citizens in captivity across the country.
The director of the police anti-kidnapping unit, Colonel Nicolas Muñoz, confirmed that over the last year kidnapping incidents decreased by more than 50% compared to 2008, reported Caracol Radio.
In 2009, 223 citizens were taken hostage, most of whom were released via security operations, leaving 63 still in captivity.
However, Muñoz acknowledged that there a number of people who were reported as kidnapped but then re-appeared, as well as cases involving people who fled their relatives for personal reasons and were never actually kidnapped.
The colonel highlighted the reduction of kidnappings in the department of Antioquia and the city of Bogota, but expressed his concern for the current security situation in the department of Nariño.
