Community | January 05, 2009 | 1 comment

Kidnappings, Long Feared in Mexico, Send Shivers Across Border

source: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/05/world/americas/05mexico.html

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FELIPE ANGELES, Mexico — Four hooded men smashed in the door to the adobe home of an 80-year-old farmer here in November, handcuffing his frail wrists and driving him to a makeshift jail. They released him after relatives and friends paid a $9,000 ransom, which included his life savings.

The kidnapping was a dismal story of cruelty and heartbreak, familiar all across Mexico, but with a new twist: the daughter of this victim lived in the United States and was able to wire money to help assemble his ransom, the farmer, who insisted that he not be identified by name, said in an interview.

A string of similar kidnappings, singling out people with children or spouses in the United States, so panicked this village in the state of Zacatecas that many people boarded up their homes and headed north, some legally and some not, seeking havens with relatives in California and other American states.
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1 comment // Kidnappings, Long Feared in Mexico, Send Shivers Across Border

  • freeus
    • 0
      freeus  

    • This is a reality, so be warned if you are thinking about traveling to Mexico. It's more common in northern Mexico where they will stage and auto accident with you, then jail you and hold you till you or your familly/friends pay them thousands of dollars.

      There is suppose to be a law now which ensures your return to the States if you are in need of medical care, but don't count on it saving you. They are ruthless.

      Last and only time I drove across the border, we had to stop at an armed patrol-stop where they searched our car. The kids holding M-16s were maybe 16 years old. If they can create a reason to hold you... they will. They will even plant drugs in your car as they search it, then throw you in jail and hold you for ransom. I count myself lucky to have gotten out without incident.

      BTW... a small time scam that happens in Mexico is to tourists at the gas stations. You pull in, they pump the gas for you, cause they don't allow you to pump it, and one of the attendents distracts you while they fill the tank. But then the attendent who filled the tank changes the final $ amount, and you end up paying $20-30 more for gas than you should have. It's easy for them to get away with this since Americans can't convert liters to gallons. So don't let them distract you. Keep your eye on the gas pump while they fill it up, and know how much a liter of gas should cost.

    • 3 years ago
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