Jun 29, 2026 · 23 min · 13 segments
Kidnap-for-ransom and extortion incidents are rising, becoming more complex, opportunistic and global. In this episode of *Ground Truth*, we draw on Control Risks’ latest report, *Kidnap and…
Michael BartyGuest
Casper LaytonHost
Mark RossinGuest
Now, I'd like you to indulge me, if you will, as I give you a potted version of our origin story.
International companies faced a growing threat from criminal and paramilitary organizations kidnapping their employees to raise funds by demanding large ransoms for their release.
Control Risks was founded to help negotiate the safe release of victims and lower ransom payments as much as possible.
Two of our founders, Arish Tirl and Simon Adamsdale, were working on one of our earliest cases in Colombia.
They'd arranged a successful handover, the victim was released, and the ransom paid, and pretty soon they found themselves in jail in the Modelo Prison in Bogotá.
They took the opportunity to write Control Risk's first standard operational procedures.
And since then, Control Risks has resolved more than 5,000 cases covering every region of the world, including 147 countries.
Now, I'd like you to indulge me, if you will, as I give you a potted version of our origin story.
International companies faced a growing threat from criminal and paramilitary organizations kidnapping their employees to raise funds by demanding large ransoms for their release.
Control Risks was founded to help negotiate the safe release of victims and lower ransom payments as much as possible.
Two of our founders, Arish Tirl and Simon Adamsdale, were working on one of our earliest cases in Colombia.
They'd arranged a successful handover, the victim was released, and the ransom paid, and pretty soon they found themselves in jail in the Modelo Prison in Bogotá.
They took the opportunity to write Control Risk's first standard operational procedures.
And since then, Control Risks has resolved more than 5,000 cases covering every region of the world, including 147 countries.
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