I've travelled through places like Mauriania and Mali, where AQIM pays local gangs a couple grand if they manage to nab some westerners. Not too long ago Spanis

I've travelled through places like Mauriania and Mali, where AQIM pays local gangs a couple grand if they manage to nab some westerners. Not too long ago Spanish aid workers were kidnapped this way (traveling in the last car in a convoy) and reportedly the Spanish government paid millions to have them released. The Germans have done the same. Can you imagine what a couple million euros is to a bunch of former goat farmers now brandishing AK's? It's very lucrative business in that part of the world. A Belgian prime minister was kidnapped in the 90's and a ransom was paid for his release. Whoever kidnapped Anthony de Clerck also here in Belgium got paid 250 million Belgian Francs, also back in the 90's.