It doesn't take a criminal mastermind to figure out that holding illegal immigrants for ransom is probably not the best use of your time. I mean, if they had any money they'd be on tourist or student visas or something. It's kind of like trying to sell an Ethiopian a freezer.

On the other hand, the kidnappers took dozens of them, so I guess I can see the business model there -- kind of a Costco approach to the crime. But, personally, I've always looked at kidnapping as more of a boutique operation. There's all the personal contact with the relatives of the victim, what with the threats and negotiation of the demands. The overhead goes beyond your voice-altering cell phones and postage for threats or ears, you've got rent for wherever you plan on holding the person, plus some cost for food and water, and you can't count on any income in the days between the snatch and the drop.

But like I said, I'm no Lex Luther.

Analogcabin @ 1:05 PM
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