Mexico to fund anti-kidnap squads

MEXICO CITY, Sept. 20 (UPI) -- Mexican police say they have established an elite, anti-kidnapping force to battle a wave of for-profit abductions in the country.

Mexico's National Security Council said Friday that all 32 Mexican states will get an extra $1.1 million to set up the anti-kidnapping units to combat increasing abductions that have seen more than 650 people become victims so far this year, the BBC reported.

The swift rise in kidnappings and beliefs that corrupt local police have been complicit in many of them prompted mass protests last month calling for tougher punishments. The demonstrations were sparked by the death of a 14-year-old boy, the BBC said.

Human rights groups say up to two-thirds of all kidnappings in Mexico may actually go unreported, oftentimes because victims' families are convinced corrupt police officers are involved.