To take someone away against their will through illegal force or fraud is kidnapping. In this world, we see many of these cases. In the U.S., children go missing or kidnapped every 40 seconds. The F.B.I. says that between 85 and 90% of the 840,000 reported missing person cases each year involve children. Family kidnappings, which most typically target children under the age of 6, frequently take place in the midst of difficult divorces or child custody disputes between parents.
Moreover, the majority of Westerners, and Americans are being abducted for a variety of reasons. They take hostage by terrorist organizations, while others are by criminal gangs. The goal of criminals is to extort money. Terrorists can be after money, a prisoner exchange, a change in the law, or publicity.
Four US Citizens Kidnapped
A U.S. official with knowledge of the case told CNN that four US citizens were abducted and assaulted by gunmen in northeastern Mexico on Friday in a case of mistaken identity.
Also, the official says that it is thought that the Americans might be mistakenly targeted and are not the intended victims. According to the official, authorities think it’s likely that a Mexican drug gang mistook them for drug traffickers from Haiti. The office also added that they have not found any evidence of the Americans having any troubling criminal histories. The official said, based on receipts discovered in the car, that the Americans had driven to the border city of Matamoros for medical operations.
Additionally, the FBI in San Antonio said that the unidentified missing Americans arrived in Matamoros on Friday in a white minivan. In that location, they came under fire from unidentified gunmen. Furthermore, the incident resulted in the death of an innocent Mexican citizen, according to U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar. Federal and local resources have reportedly been mobilized to find the missing people, according to officials in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
Risks Of Going To Matamoros, Mexico
Just over the Rio Grande river from Brownsville, Texas, is the city of Matamoros, which has more than 500,000 residents. For Americans considering visiting Tamaulipas, the U.S. State Department has issued a “Level 4: Do Not Go.” This is a recommendation because of citing crime and kidnapping.
Criminal organizations frequently kidnap passengers from passenger buses, both public and private. Also, as well as from private cars passing through Tamaulipas, according to a State Department caution.
For instance, authorities advised parents to keep their children home from school due to two shootings in the city on the same day as the suspected kidnappings. A sizable tent camp of migrants, largely from Haiti and Venezuela, camped out at Matamoros in an effort to enter the U.S. and seek asylum.
Besides this, Mexico is a well-liked location for “medical tourism.” The practice of seeking medical treatment abroad, typically in search of reduced charges or an unapproved procedure.
How To Be Cautious
Look for alternate routes.
- When traveling from home to work and back, discover alternate streets or roads to take if you feel threatened.
- Let someone know where you’re going.
- Protect Your house.
Give your kids the advice to avoid interacting with strangers and arm themselves with weapons of self-defense.
Equally important you can also go down to the ground and cross your arms in front of your chest or behind your head for safety. Avoid running and avoid sudden movements.
Lastly, many Americans and people around the world are a part of this tragedy. America should ensure everyone feels safe and is safe anywhere they go.
Recently, the four kidnapped victims have been recovered. However, two of them tragically lost their lives.
By Kelianexis Rodriguez
Sources
CNN: 4 US citizens were kidnapped by gunmen in Mexico in case of mistaken identity, US official says
NBC NEWS: Woman in group of kidnapped U.S. citizens was in Mexico for cosmetic procedure, official says
US NEWS: Search Underway for Americans Kidnapped in Mexico Border Town
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Inset Image Courtesy of Erwin Morales Creative Commons License
