BajaNomad

Second U.S. executive kidnapped in Tijuana

BajaNews - 4-12-2006 at 10:39 AM

http://www.sanluisobispo.com/mld/sanluisobispo/news/politics...

SAN DIEGO - For the second time in four days, an American businessman was kidnapped in Tijuana, officials said.

Prior to last week, foreign executives had been largely immune from kidnappings and other violence that touches most corners of Tijuana.

In the latest incident, George Kwok Choi Chu, a naturalized U.S. citizen of Chinese descent, was seized Monday afternoon in front of his Tijuana business, according to the U.S. Consulate. The Tijuana-based Frontera newspaper identified Chu as the owner of a business called Choi's, which sells seafood to Chinese restaurants.

Liza Davis, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Consulate in Tijuana, said Chu is a seafood wholesaler.

FBI spokeswoman Jan Caldwell confirmed that Mexican authorities are investigating the case as a kidnapping.

"Mexican law enforcement authorities contacted us and we are cooperating with them," she said.

The U.S. Consulate said it believes Chu lives in Chula Vista.

Last Thursday, a gunman kidnapped U.S. businessman Yong Hak Kim, president of Amex Manufacturing, as he drove to work in Tijuana. His company offers services, such as forklift rentals, to larger manufacturing operations.

Kim's kidnappers asked for $2 million, but he escaped Friday before paying any money. Mexican authorities identified some of his suspected kidnappers as his employees.

Dave - 4-12-2006 at 11:16 AM

You're doing a great job, Hank!

Keep up the good work. :biggrin: