Sosua Kidnapping?

[Ken]

There is a rumor circulating around Sosua that a foreign resident was stopped while driving the Moca road, put in a car and taken toward Haiti. Rumor further is that the Dominican authorities learned of this in some way and were waiting at the border to make the rescue.

If true, one more thing to add to the list of reasons why it isn't a good idea to drive a car in the DR.

[Chris]

Uuuhm? Is this a specific foreign resident? Perhaps someone that consistently 'disses' the locals? Or random?

[Robert]

That's like saying, I'm not going to use a cell phone as it might get stolen.

I have driven that road 30x, it's a great road and have no plans to change.

[Ken]

Originally Posted by Chris

Uuuhm? Is this a specific foreign resident? Perhaps someone that consistently 'disses' the locals? Or random?

Yes and no. Probably wrong place at wrong time. Rumor is there was a road block. Maybe cars allowed to pass until one that looked promising came along.

I've seen your car, Robert. You have nothing to worry about.

[Chris]

Lesson number one in DR Living ... Have a non-descript car...

[Robert]

Originally Posted by Ken

Yes and no. Probably wrong place at wrong time. Rumor is there was a road block. Maybe cars allowed to pass until one that looked promising came along.

I've seen your car, Robert. You have nothing to worry about.

So did they go after the person or the car?
Based on your last response, the car

[Rocky]

I was on that road this morning, on my way to Moca, then to Santiago.
I have to agree with Robert's assessment.
If the kidnappers were out to get one particular dude, and were well set up, and the victim didn't have a contingency plan, it wouldn't be hard to do.
If someone in this world is really out to get you, unless your the president of a country surrounded with secret service agents, the odds are they will get you, be it on the road, or anywhere else.
It certainly would have no effect on me and my perception of driving in the DR or anywhere else.
When I had my fruit & veggie business and traveled in the middle of the night with lots of cash, I was aware that crooks might try to block my way on the road, to rob me, as it was a pretty popular scam near El Tunel on the POP - Santiago highway.
The first time they tried it on me, was on the Caretera Turistica, and I put my plan into action.
They used 5 or 6 cars and a few bikes.
Suffice to say I put my plan into action and they ran for the hills, with brown streaks in their shorts.
Being prepared makes all the difference.
Now, what I and I'm sure everybody else wants to know, do you know who the victim was?
Do we have any more details?

[AZB]

it maybe just a rumor but....


Then again we do have people who love to flash money unnessarily in public. I know of one foreigner who loves to disrespect anyone and everyone and flashes thousands of pesos roll even when he has to pay a bill of 20 pesos. I can see this type of person attracting attention of the wrong element of this society.
AZB

[Rocky]

Originally Posted by AZB

it maybe just a rumor.
AZB

Ken stated that from the start, and I suppose we will soon know.
Nevertheless, it's a good idea to give some thought to what you would do, should the situation ever arise.
Being prepared in life, makes all the difference.
I'm sure we've all had close calls in our lives.
Better to be a sleeping lion, than a lamb, ready for slaughter.

[jcarn]

Originally Posted by Rocky

Suffice to say I put my plan into action and they ran for the hills, with brown streaks in their shorts.
Being prepared makes all the difference.

this makes me curious.... so what was the plan that you put into action?