It used to be that these gangs would kidnap wealthy people in ransom schemes, but that would be dangerous for both parties. If you kidnap the wrong person from a family with the right political connections, there’s a good chance that it’ll turn into a fatal mistake. However, when you kidnap helpless people instead then you’re not going to face the military hunting you down. Also if you fleece the rich instead of putting them in mortal danger, there’s also a chance that they might not report it due to embarrassment.

Going on a tangent, the title is horrible. It looks like click bait which doesn’t suit The Economist. They need to change it.