BEIJING, March 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Sources close to Angela Jolie and Brad Pitt say the couple has beefed up their corps of security guards following reports a Los Angeles gang had plans to kidnap Pax Thien, Jolie's newly adopted Vietnamese son, and demand a 100 million U.S. dollar ransom.

    It's alleged Jolie's security team had learned of the plot to kidnap the 3-year-old once he and Jolie returned to the United States, Life & Style Weekly claims.

    "They're highly skilled operatives with little regard for human life," the insider says to Life & Style. "Information came out that leaders of the gang ordered their LA members to devise a plan to kidnap Pax before demanding a ransom of 100 million dollars for his safe return," the insider says. "Brad and Angie would have a number of days to hand over the money or risk the boy¡¯s life."

    The whole affair may be a hoax, because a repesentative of the couple denied the allegations, or it may be true.

    "She sobbed that she'd die if anything happened to Pax," a friend said. "They have gone into total lockdown mode. He's (Brad) added manpower around their LA home and has told security he doesn't want Angie or the kids leaving the house without at least five security people."

    "She isn't sleeping and barely eats," the friend said. "She doesn't let the kids out of her sight. She seems on the verge of a breakdown."

    Meanwhile, it was found the British tabloid News of the World misled the media about Pax's addicted mother. The child's grandfather told VietnamNet the NOTW story was inaccurate.

    "Firstly, we haven't seen Sang (Pax' birth name), let alone bring him to Tam Binh Orphanage as mentioned in the article. Secondly, our family hasn't signed any paper concerning our grandchild," said Pham Chien. "This is the job of Tam Binh Orphanage. We were merely informed of the adoption by the orphanage and the HCM City Department of Justice. Our family has nothing to do with any lawsuit or money demand."

    "I thought the child was dead. We didn't bring up the subject for fear it would hurt Dung (Pax' biological mother)," said his wife, the boy's grandmother.

    (Agencies)