Wealthy citizens have had to provide for their own security. In large parts of Rio de Janeiro, armed criminal gangs are said to be in control. The city of Sao Paulo is also very dangerous. A recent ERRI World Sitrep report indicated that violent crime is prevalent in and around Guatemala City. Public buses have become a favorite target of well-armed gangs in the area.
Crime statistics are also very high in Honduras, Nicaragua and Venezuela.
The police have not been able to handle the work load and the military have been called in to assist in these countries. There is a very distinct crime wave happening in Latin America. In 1994, Peru reported that there were about ten homicides committed in the country every day. An average of three to four wealthy individuals were being kidnapped every month in Guatemala. Kidnapping is becoming a cottage industry in Latin America.