Mexican businessman rescued from Costa Rica kidnapping ring

April 20^th, 2015 (InsideCostaRica.com) Costa Rica’s Judicial Investigative Police (OIJ) were able to rescue a Mexican businessman on Friday who had been held captive in Tes Rios, Alajuela by a Costa Rica-based kidnapping ring since April 11th, the OIJ told reporters in a statement.

“The rescue was carried out last Friday in Alajuela province outside a dwelling, where they were apparently keeping the victim, and at the moment when a man guarding him brought him out to move him to another location,” the OIJ said in a statement.

A 36-year-old Nicaraguan man was arrested at the scene.  Two other members of the kidnapping ring, both Costa Ricans, were taken into custody on Saturday.

A total of four locations in Moravia, La Union and Alajuela were raided and searched for evidence as part of the operation, according to the OIJ.

Authorities have determined that the Costa Rican kidnapping ring targets foreigners, especially Mexicans, by luring them to Costa Rica with bogus investment offers.  After picking up their victims from the airport, the gang threatens their victims with firearms, taking them to properties used by the group to imprison the victims.

Relatives of the Mexican businessman rescued in Alajuela were asked to $50,000 for the man’s release, according to the EFE news agency.  The family contacted Mexican authorities, who notified their counterparts in Costa Rica, according to EFE.