Thailand: Unidentified assailants kidnap two Chinese nationals in Chon Buri Province March 20

Event

Unidentified assailants kidnapped two Chinese nationals while they were driving along Pornpranimit 21 Street in Nong Prue Subdistrict, Chon Buri Province, March 20. The victims had earlier dropped off a child at a school in Bang Lamung District. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of THB 4.7 million, of which around THB 990,000 was reportedly transferred by the victims' relatives. The kidnappers are still holding the victims captive as of March 21.

Context

The incident is unlikely to indicate a heightened general threat for most foreigners in Thailand; the overall threat of kidnapping in the country remains low. Kidnappers in Thailand are more likely to target locals, particularly in the insurgency-affected Deep South region. Nevertheless, foreign nationals may be targeted due to their perceived wealth. The most common types of abduction in Thailand include basic opportunistic kidnap-for-ransom, high-net-worth individual kidnap-for-ransom, and political kidnapping. Victims are usually released unharmed and relatively quickly, though they could face the threat of injury or death during confinement.