Mexican Kidnap Rings Targeting Americans
Organized, well-financed and violent Mexican kidnapping cells are targeting a growing number of U.S. citizens visiting communities popular with San Diegans and other California residents.
Last year, at least 26 San Diego County residents were kidnapped and held for ransom in Tijuana, Rosarito Beach or Ensenada, local FBI agents overseeing the cases said yesterday. In 2006, at least 11 county residents had been kidnapped in the three communities.
“Some of the 26 were recovered, some were hurt and some were killed,” said agent Alex Horan, who directs the FBI’s violent-crime squad in San Diego.
“It’s not a pleasant experience. Victims have reported beatings, torture and there have been rapes. . . . Handcuffs and hoods over the head are common,” he said.
When contrasted to the 40 million border crossings made every year at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, the kidnapping numbers are small. Most of the victims have business interests or family members in Mexico.
But authorities said anyone planning to visit Mexico should be cautious.
“I would certainly be concerned,” Horan said.
The U.S. Consulate in Tijuana issued a travel advisory last week that said U.S. citizens living and traveling in Mexico should be extra vigilant.
Gunfights and other violence linked to drug cartels have increased in Baja California, and more Mexican citizens have been kidnapped lately.
While some of the groups suspected of kidnapping Americans are connected to drug trafficking, most aren’t, Horan said.
He described the kidnapping groups as sophisticated operations similar to terrorist cells, each with a boss and clear divisions of labor. Usually, one group is involved in scouting, another carries out the kidnapping, a third holds the victim and a fourth handles the ransom.
“They know who they’re going after. I think they have a list,” Horan said. “These are kidnapping cells. . . . That’s what they do. They do kidnappings all year long.”
While the FBI wouldn’t say what the ransom demands are, or how often they’re paid, agents said money is driving the increase.
“This is not about terrorizing people or retaliating. This is about making money, and obviously this is good business for them,” Horan said.
(SOSD)
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I live in San Diego. The problem in Mexico has been growing VERY fast in the past year.
My sister and I used to go down to Rosarito Beach or Ensenada and all points in between for the day to shop. It was a great day trip that usually ended up with a drive back in my truck packed with awesome buys. We would stop at a little place (Califia) have lunch.
We haven’t been able to go down there for the past 6 months. Its just to damn dangerous. We have no plans to go either. Not without a ARMED ODO American escort.
February 6th, 2008 at 10:29 pmNext there will be kidnappings in the US border areas and then they will dragged off into Mexico. It won’t end until the hammer falls and our politicians are to weak and scared to offend the growing Latin vote to do any REAL safeguards. The fall comes ever so subtlety.
Brian
February 7th, 2008 at 1:15 amThis is a common practice in all of latin america and something I believe should be dealt with more harshly.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:14 amThe movie “Man on Fire” with Denzel Washington displays the kidnap cell structure pretty well.
It is a pretty good movie too, watching Denzel dismantle the cell.
February 7th, 2008 at 7:46 amIsn’t this the reason the FBI has the HRT?
February 7th, 2008 at 9:06 am