A road warrior's guide to survival. (International).

An executive was riding from the Bogota, Colombia, airport on a major road when a taxi suddenly cut off his car and slammed on the brakes, forcing him to stop. A van immediately appeared behind the executive's car, and five men, all in police uniforms and sporting guns, jumped out and surrounded the vehicle. They demanded that the driver open the doors. Luckily for the executive, his company had taken the appropriate precautions. He was being transported by a trained security driver in a level-three armored car (which is able to withstand fire from a .44 magnum or 9 mm Uzi, up to certain velocities). The driver refused the gunmen's demand to open the doors, and he promptly called into base on his radio. Though one of the bandits tried to smash the car windows with the butt of his rifle, he couldn't break the reinforced glass. Having witnessed the radio call, the assailants got nervous and fled.

This real-life incident vividly illustrates the risks of doing business in some high-crime Latin American cities, such as Bogota, Mexico City, Sao Paulo (Brazil), and Caracas (Venezuela). Companies that need to operate in or send employees to these high-risk locations face special challenges beyond the normal competitive pressures of global business.

Businesses must ensure that their employees know the threats specific to their destination and are prepared to address them. Advance preparation is essential for those traveling to a dangerous city, the experts agree. As to the level of protective measures that might be optimal, recommendations vary.

Whether employees traveling to or temporarily working in a high-risk locale can maintain some semblance of a normal life may depend in part on the type of work the employee does. Anybody transporting jewels, large sums of cash, or anything else of high value "should have a bodyguard, a trusted driver, and, ideally, a tailing car with radio contact," says Greg Rodriguez, an international security consultant working in Mexico and a former U.S. federal law enforcement officer.

The more typical travelers should at least know where they are and where they are going at all times, and they should not drop their security awareness even for a moment, says Rodriguez. "Of course, you're not going to lock yourself in your hotel room in Mexico City for a week. But you'd better know what you're up against" in terms of threats, he says. Going out at night in Mexico City is fine, he adds, but never go out alone and always use a reliable driver (most upscale hotels provide secure driving services).

Katrin Forster, chief financial officer for FTAA Consulting, a Latin American business consultancy, agrees that despite the need for caution, normal activities can be sustained if one has specific and up-to-date knowledge of the areas that are safe. For example, Forster notes that business travelers looking for vibrant nightlife and shopping in Bogota "should stick to the trendy areas around carreras 82 and 93."

Forster also says that travelers can safely take taxis from the airport, provided the cabs are ordered directly from an official taxi booth inside the terminal. Other security directors disagree, however, recommending against the use of any public transport in such locales.

Forster, who has lived in Bogota for 25 years, warns that lone travelers, especially women, should "keep an eye on [their] drinks at all times because there have been cases of people being slipped the drug scopolamine," which basically knocks people out. And she advises against going out after 5 p.m. in downtown Bogota. "There used to be safe bars in the 5th [carrera 5], but many people were kidnapped," she explains.

Rodriguez also notes the special risks to women in Mexico. Crime statistics show that women are being targeted more frequently for kidnapping in that country, on the theory that their husbands or brothers (read: male breadwinner) can come up with ransom payments quickly. In addition, he says, common crime is a problem. "A lot of women will park in front of a store and start going through their purse looking for their checkbook. That is not smart. It makes you an instant crime target," he says.

Many security professionals advise even greater levels of security as the norm. One security director who asked not to be named takes the view that in Bogota every restaurant, office building, private club, or other establishment that travelers from his company visit must have an armed security force on the premises.

This security professional, who works for a multinational corporation, also advises employees against the casual use of street taxis to get around town. "Every business trip involves the constant use of a trusted business associate or a professional security driver to move from appointment to appointment," he says.

Another concern is that the guerrilla group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has penetrated almost every aspect of power in Bogota, including security forces and the banks, and can easily learn names and profiles of potential victims, their organizations, itineraries (business and social), lodging arrangements, and leisure activities. Therefore, he recommends "a certain amount of secrecy about meetings--who will attend and the venue." Also, he notes that the habitual use of business cards has almost disappeared in Bogota because criminal gangs use the cards as an intelligence source to identify and track potential kidnap victims.

Sometimes the best strategy is simply not to send business travelers to the riskiest cities. If business has to be done there, the company can use local professionals and can hold meetings in safer locations. Anna Maria Uribe, an attorney with the Bogota law firm Prieto & Carrizosa, says, "Our clients from other countries don't come here anymore" due to the security situation. "We used to have many clients come here to close business and make deals, but now we have to go other places, like Miami, to do the business."

While opinion on providing protection in Bogota and other cities may vary, the consensus on rural Colombia is far more resounding: Rebels run the countryside; do not travel there without the highest-level protection available.

When the Canadian construction management and engineering company Hatch entered into a joint mining operation with Bechtel (an American counterpart) in Cerro Matoso, Colombia, the first step Hatch took was to retain a global security advisor that specialized in high-threat locations. "They ensured that every Hatch employee [who went to Cerro Matoso] did so with a bodyguard and a chauffeur," said Tom Reid, the global director of communications for Hatch.

Hatch assigned a full-time employee to stay in constant contact with staff in Colombia and to act as a liaison with those employees' families. That was done because "it is hard to ensure a secure phone line in Colombia, so it is better to conduct those communications in two steps," Reid explains. The liaison was able to keep employees' family members apprised of specific travel dates and other key details. Thanks to those countermeasures, the company experienced no attempted security breaches throughout the 1998-2001 operation, Reid reports.

Sometimes specific crimes or ways of carrying out a crime become popular among criminals in certain locations, For example, in Sao Paulo, more so than in other cities, intersections are a favorite staging point for thieves, armed assailants, and car-jackers (this is especially true at intersections with heavy traffic congestion). Armed assailants often work in teams, disguised as beggars or vendors who target unsuspecting and distracted occupants.

"Guys will approach pretending they are begging or selling flowers or chewing gum. Then they pull a .38 out from under their shirt. Other drivers won't even notice," says Robert Creswell, CPP, president of the Sao Paulo-based security consultancy Creswell and Associates. His advice: Keep your doors locked and windows rolled up when stopped or moving slowly.

By contrast, Bogota and Mexico City have a high rate of kidnapping for ransom. Although these crimes have been around for several years, the Mexican capital has recently seen skyrocketing rates of "express kidnappings" and ATM "quicknappings." Express kidnappings target primarily the middle class and moderately wealthy (versus the very rich) for fairly short-term abductions, through which the kidnappers hope to draw a ransom of a few thousand dollars, though sometimes the bidding starts much higher than that.

ATM quicknap perpetrators target anybody who appears to have a wallet or purse. The victims are driven from ATM to ATM, often in the trunk of a car, while their bank accounts are drained by the abductors.

Jewelers, who are known to carry large amounts of cash, "have been kidnapped in very elite parts of town," Rodriguez says. He advises them to conduct as much business as possible via phone, mail, or the Internet, then do their face-to-face transactions in high-rise office buildings where they won't stand out as much as they might in a jewelry store or a more visible ground-level business.

Rodriguez also works with bankers, who, he notes, tend to have set schedules, visiting the same branches at the same times every day. Those habits make them easier crime targets than less predictable people, he says. "I tell them, 'You have to alter your routines. People are watching you.'"

A security professional at a major international financial services company echoes Rodriguez's advice. "Don't get up every day at 5 a.m., go to the gym, come back, eat breakfast in your room, walk out the front door, and catch a cab on the corner," he says. "Go to the corner without all the wealthy Americans. Work out in the afternoon on some days. Occasionally use another door to exit the hotel, if it is safe."

While some crimes are planned, many are spur-of-the-moment undertakings. The criminals are opportunists who simply keep an eye out for vulnerable tourists. In Sao Paulo, where most offenses are crimes of opportunity, a traveler's best risk-mitigation tool is local awareness and familiarity, says Creswell.

If they are targeted by criminals, business travelers should understand how best to respond in each situation. For example, many Brazilian criminals are street thugs with little fear of law enforcement. Thus, Creswell says, if confronted by an armed assailant, stay calm and make no sudden movements. "Keep your hands in plain sight. Do as you are requested. Respond only to his questions and do not argue. Do not try to engage him by talking. Make it easy for the assailant to leave."

Because of Sao Paulo's checkerboard mix of wealth and poverty, no neighborhoods are completely secure. "You have million-dollar homes next to shanties," Creswell points out. "So it is crucial that you familiarize yourself with where you are staying." Take note of street conditions, traffic density, parking areas, lighting, one-way or two-way traffic, and access to and from the building. "By knowing what is normal, you will notice when something is not."

If you will have a car, Creswell suggests driving a vehicle that is at least two years old, rather than a new one. And, he says, never leave vehicle documents in your car. Take them with you after you park. It's also important to have a good map of the city with you so that you don't have to stop to ask for directions.

Furthermore, says Creswell, workers in a foreign city should learn their routes to and from work, schools, clubs, shopping, and other regular stops. (But as mentioned earlier, they should avoid having a routine; thus, they should learn multiple routes to each destination and should alternate among them.) Before going anywhere, Creswell advises travelers: "print your routes and take them with you. This is helpful, for example when taking taxis, to avoid communication problems and delays."

Creswell urges travelers to learn the location of police stations, hospitals, government buildings, and other facilities along their common routes that can provide a safe haven or assistance in the event of an emergency. He also cautions against wandering out without a definite agenda. "Plan your leisure activities in advance. Know which establishments are safe to frequent before you go. Take direct routes to restaurants and nightclubs (casas noturnas)."

Creswell advises that travelers who get into a traffic accident should, whenever possible, drive to a safe well-lighted area before getting out of the vehicle. The traveler should not argue with the other driver. It is also important to maintain control of all personal documents.

If there is a victim in a traffic accident, he or she must be given assistance under the law. The traveler should contact the local authorities, as well as his or her company representative or lawyer. If possible, have them accompany you, says Creswell.

For employees on longer-term assignments, Creswell offers these tips: Study the local culture and customs, and try to learn at least the basics of the local language. As for living accommodations, he says, in Brazil, apartment living offers better security than single-family dwellings, provided that properly trained doormen and electronic security systems tightly control access to the entrances, exits, and common areas.

Another question that arises for long-term workers is the use of domestics. Creswell notes that in some countries, including Brazil, domestic employees such as maids, gardeners, and drivers are the norm for people who live there. But he cautions that while they are not necessarily witting accomplices, they are often the means by which an assailant gains access to or obtains critical information about the target residence.

And personal security is not the only issue. Proprietary information theft is another major concern for travelers. "Expect that if you leave a computer in your room, someone will scrutinize your files," says the financial services security professional. His advice? "Do your work on a computer disk and stick it in your jacket pocket when you go to dinner. And don't bring any more business materials on your trip than you absolutely need." Employees of big-name firms are most likely to be targeted for intellectual property theft.

To prepare his travelers for the range of threats they may encounter, he ensures that every employee going abroad gets a thorough city-specific security briefing before the trip. His prime caveat for employees who will he circulating independently in high-risk cities: "Act like you know where you're going, even when you don't. Don't walk around looking at the tops of buildings like a tourist. And trust your gut. If you come around a corner and the hair on the back of your neck stands up, get out of there."

The bottom line, agree all the experts: Do your homework. Understand the threats in every city you visit before you leave home, and know exactly how you will behave to minimize your risk and how you will react in a crime situation. By properly preparing, travelers can profit from the business experience they seek without experiencing firsthand any of the serious problems that plague some destinations.

John A Briley is senior managing editor for iJet Travel Intelligence Carl Provencher, who is the director of security intelligence at iJet, assisted with the article.