The banker Alfredo Harp Helú was released on June 28, 1994, on Universidad Avenue and Parroquia, where he took a taxi to head to a relative's house. Thirty years later, the mystery surrounding his kidnapping remains, as those responsible were never identified.
In a letter, Harp Helú mentioned that he was in good health and asked the police not to intervene due to the threat to his life. In April, a month after the assassination of Luis Donaldo Colosio, the kidnappers demanded 100 million dollars for his release.
Julio César García, president of the Mexican Society of Bodyguards, pointed out that the kidnapping of Harp Helú was a meticulously planned act by members of the Popular Revolutionary Army in disguise. Despite his high public exposure, his security system proved insufficient.
After being held captive for four months, Harp Helú's family agreed to pay 30 million dollars for his release. His rescue marked a milestone in the history of private security in Mexico, as it revealed the vulnerability of prominent figures in similar situations.
In 2009, tragedy struck the Harp family again with the sudden death of their son Alfredo Harp Calderoni, chairman of the board of Grupo Martí, due to a massive heart attack. This tragic event added to the dark chapter of Alfredo Harp Helú's kidnapping, which left the country shocked in the mid-90s.
Alfredo Harp Helú lived in extreme conditions during the 106 days he was kidnapped by an armed group. Despite his high profile, the lack of an adequate protection scheme facilitated his capture, highlighting the weaknesses in the security systems of influential figures in Mexico.
