A local deputy of the National Action Party (Spanish abbr: PAN) kidnapped on Friday was found alive in the southern portion of the northeastern border state of Tamaulipas.
The victim, Vicente Verastegui, was abducted from his ranch near the towns of El Mante and Xicotencatl, an area consisting mostly of farmland roughly 115 miles south of the state capital of Ciudad Victoria.
A massive search was launched for Verastegui, involving the state police, the state attorney general’s office, the National Guard and an army special forces unit.
Though he was found alive early Saturday morning, the details of where he was located remain unclear. He reportedly was found to be in good health.
Verastegui is the brother of Cesar Verastegui, a PAN candidate who unsuccessfully ran for governor of Tamaulipas in the 2 June elections.
Authorities have not commented on who abducted Verastegui, nor have they stated if he was taken due to his political affiliations or status as a ranch owner.
Tamaulipas, long considered one of the most dangerous states in Mexico, is home to a number of cartels and other criminal gangs.
The border cities of Matamoros and Reynosa is considered split territory among factions of the Gulf Cartel, while the Cartel of the Northeast (Spanish abbr: CDN) is predominant in Nuevo Laredo and northwestern parts of the state.
The ultra-violent Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Spanish abbr: CJNG) has also recently begun moving into Tamaulipas.
The cartels fight each other, members of other gangs and the security forces, and engage in extortion and armed robbery in addition to drug and human trafficking.
The major gangs and hundreds of lesser groups engage in a catalog of crimes throughout Tamaulipas. These including kidnapping, extortion and armed robbery in addition to drug and human trafficking.
Rural areas of Tamaulipas are especially dangerous and criminal gangs operate with impunity. State and local law enforcement is limited or nonexistent in many areas and cases of carjacking, kidnapping and armed robberies are common at any time, but especially after 1800. Essentially, no highway in the state is safe.
The US State Department repeatedly has warned American citizens against travel to Tamaulipas because of high levels of cartel activity.
Personnel who must travel there should be watchful, as no part of the state can be considered safe.
Roads throughout Tamaulipas are extremely hazardous. Personnel who must travel between points in the state should do so in daylight. Nighttime travel is unthinkable.
See the country summary for further recommendations.
