Quote:
Originally Posted by babykahuna
In traveling through many 3rd World countries for my work I am always concerned about kidnapping of foreigners once youre found to deal with a lot of cash. Has any one given thoughts about this in dealing with the Phillipines, Cambodia, China, etc? I know the companies I work for take that kind of security into account.
Kidnapping of foreigners is not a major problem in Macau SAR. The triads allegedly target only those people involved in organized crime activities. (Advice to those traveling to Macau: stay away from "massage parlors" which are really brothels to keep yourself out of trouble.)
I personally encountered no issues while I was in Macau last November (though I did NOT venture into areas and establishments that are known to have organized crime activities at night.)
I do know that number of poker events have been held in Manila over the years without incident.
Of course players need to take the proper precautions whenever they are abroad (i.e. travel in groups, don't walk out of the hotel onto the streets alone, take hotel shuttle buses and licensed taxies whenever possible, etc.)
Those precautions apply almost everywhere, even in allegedly "safe" countries such as Australia where a careless player walked out of the Crown Casino ALONE after taking his 2008 Aussie Millions prize money in CASH. The player was mugged on the street.
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The biggest kidnapping headache I (as a poker agent who now actively work with several Latin American players) currently has on my radar is
Mexico, where the police forces in resort cities such as Cancun are allegedly corrupt and are allegedly actively involved in the kidnapping of foreign tourists at an alarming rate. I do know that Mexico City hasn't been safe for anyone perceived to have money from being kidnapping targets for many years, but the kidnapping problem has spread to Cancun and other tourist areas because of the drug trade being controlled by organized crime elements.
If and when the PokerStars.net LAPT is able to obtain a tournament license in Mexico, the kidnapping issue will have to be dealt with by PokerStars.net and the LAPT. All the sponsored players are potential kidnapping targets if the situation in resort areas in Mexico such as Cancun remains as dangerous as it allegedly is now.
Last edited by olivert; 08-17-2008 at 09:07 PM.
