While researching kidnapping in Colombia, a puzzling phenomenon kept coming up in interviews: former kidnappers, victims, and security personnel would mention what they called “vende de secuestrada” — selling the kidnapped person. 2/

Criminal gangs were kidnapping in Colombia’s big cities and selling hostages to the powerful FARC and ELN rebel groups. The rebels, in turn, would hold the hostages and negotiate a much higher ransom payment from victims’ families. For ex, from the BBC: www.bbc.com/news/world-l...