ransom

"The drug-related intimidation is affecting individuals, families and whole communities are being held to ransom by the drug dealers."

A brother and sister from Mexico were convicted of kidnapping a neighbor and threatening to kill the victim unless his Southern California family paid a ransom, according to federal authorities.

The firm did not disclose whether the ransom was paid.

“Etiquette is kind of beside the point. It’s like reading a ransom note and going, ‘This cursive is just so lovely.

Bosses at Hydro decided they would not pay a ransom fee to restore access, meaning that 35,000 staff working across 40 countries had to find other ways of doing their jobs, temporarily.