Kidnap and Hostage Response
Join Pete Morton and Kervin Aucoin from Aucoin Analytics and the Podcast "This Week Explained." This topic is essential as the threat level will likely continue to increase...especially for those sending people abroad.
In this practical webinar, Pete Morton (Principal Consultant, Morton Executive Decisions) and Kervin Aucoin (CEO of Aucoin Analytics, Army veteran with extensive hostage rescue and personnel recovery experience) break down the rising threat of kidnapping and hostage situations for small- to mid-sized organizations, nonprofits, humanitarian groups, and faith-based entities operating internationally.
Key Distinctions: Hostage vs. Kidnapping
Hostage-taking: Perpetrators hold someone to leverage a third party (government, company, or organization) for political, financial, or other concessions. Often strategic and tied to broader agendas (e.g., Kervin’s work on cases like Jeffrey Woodke, a missionary held for ~6.5 years in Africa).
Kidnapping (ransom-focused): Typically for immediate financial gain or exploitation. More common for smaller orgs; perpetrators often target “soft targets” like average employees rather than high-profile executives for quicker, lower-risk payouts. Examples include freelancers Amanda Lindhout and Nigel Brennan, held in Somalia for over a year.
Real-world toll: Long recovery times, family strain, trauma, and coordination challenges between agencies—even successful cases leave lasting impacts.
Current and Future Threat Landscape
The risk is growing due to geopolitical instability (e.g., Middle East shifts in Syria/Lebanon, African Sahel changes with reduced Western presence), economic pressures, organized crime, and terrorism. Soft targets—humanitarian workers, contractors, and mid-level staff in volatile regions like Latin America, Africa, and conflict zones—are increasingly vulnerable.
Prediction: Expect more incidents as desperate groups seek leverage against the U.S. and others. Smaller, decentralized actors are shifting to volume-based, lower-ransom kidnappings for better returns with less heat.
Prevention and Mitigation
Many incidents are avoidable with basic awareness and planning:
Inform and train travelers — Provide factual pre-travel briefings, risk reports, and cultural awareness. Don’t scare—empower. Employees who know the threats and your support plan travel more confidently.
Limit information exposure — Lock down itineraries, PII, and calendars. Avoid oversharing on social media (a “treasure trove” for bad actors via patterns, networks, and real-time tracking).
Break patterns — Vary routes, times, and routines. Stagger arrivals/departures. Be fashionably late in some cultures if it disrupts predictability.
Assess and prepare individuals — Identify who’s ready for high-risk travel; provide targeted training. Use open-source intelligence proactively.
Emphasize: Knowledge is power, and proactive mitigation is far cheaper than response.
If the Worst Happens: Response Essentials
Despite best efforts, incidents occur. Have a clear plan:
Designate a crisis lead focused on resolution (safe return) over justice.
Coordinate with families, government agencies, media, and experts—balance speed, sensitivity, and organizational priorities.
Test plans with dry runs and evacuation protocols (as in one successful orphanage case).
Expect fluidity—adapt quickly without second-guessing.
The webinar stresses that small organizations can achieve Fortune 100-level protection on a minimal budget through preparation, smart partnerships, and employee empowerment rather than expensive headcount or tech.