At least 15 U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Tijuana during the last year and a half. But Consular officials says they're not being singled-out for their nationality. KPBS reporter Amy Isackson explains.
15 kidnappings may sound like a lot. But not in comparison to the hundreds of Mexicans who've been kidnapped in Tijuana during the last few years.
Consular officials estimate 70 percent of the U.S. citizens kidnapped in Tijuana both live and work there. The remainder live in San Diego and do business in Tijuana. Tourists are rarely targeted.
Officials suspect the majority of U.S. citizens who are kidnapped are involved in illicit business. Though they say two Asian-American businessmen whose kidnappings made headlines last spring were targeted because they're wealthy.
Consular officials say they probably only know about a fraction of the actual kidnappings involving U.S. citizens in Tijuana. They say victims' families are often reluctant to report them to the authorities. Even when they do, communication typically trails off.
Amy Isackson, KPBS News.
