Ecuador: Express Kidnappings and Robberies Increasing in 2011

According to ElUniverso.com the Attorney of the Judicial police in Guayaquil denounced the increasing express kidnapping and violent robberies that are occurring in the Guayas province. As of yesterday 24 express kidnappings have been reported to authorities this month. However, President Rafael Correa reported last week that crimes had dropped by 15% from 2010 in Ecuador. However he stated that robberies have increased about 26%. The President believes this number is distorted due to increased cellular robbery, reports ElUniverso.com. The president mentioned the brutality of crimes in Ecuador on Saturday, saying that homicides are increasingly linked to organized crime in 2011. A security meeting held with the Governor of the Guayas Province in the first week of June confirmed that crime has grown. The report says that during the first five months criminal cases increased by 20 to 287 when compared to 267 reported in 2010.Read Article