14 Kidnappers Arrested In Miguel Alemán, Tamps

"HEARST" for Borderland Beat

On August 21, 2021, the Ministry of National Defense, through the Command of the 8th Military Zone, announced that they had arrested 14 alleged kidnappers. 

According to El Bravo, uniformed Army (SEDENA) soldiers were carrying out standard patrols in the town of Los Guerras, a town west of Miguel Aleman, Tamaulipas. But according to El Sol de Tampico, these patrols occurred on Álvaro Obregón street in the Plan de Guadalupe neighborhood of the town of Miguel Aleman itself. 

Regardless, while on their patrol the SEDENA soldiers encountered a property six “suspicious vehicles” parked on it. They decided to approach the suspicious vehicles for a routine inspection. Inside the vehicles they found multiple large caliber firearms. This discovery led them to do a full scale inspection of the property.

During this property inspection, they found 14 alleged criminals, including two women. When the alleged criminals were questioned about the firearms found in the vehicles, they could not legally justify their possession and all 14 were arrested. 

After their arrest, the soldiers found a man who was lying face down on the floor elsewhere on the property. The man had his hands and feet bound. When questioned by soldiers, the man said he had been held captive, likely for ransom, since last Thursday, August 12, 2021. 

The military seized 18 long barrel firearms, a .50-caliber firearm, and various ammunition. They also seized six vehicles, which were a combination of pickup trucks and SUVs according to photos of the incident. 

The kidnapping victim was taken to the corresponding authorities to give a statement as part of the preliminary investigation. The 14 alleged criminals are currently in custody and will likely be charged for kidnapping and possession of weapons for the exclusive use of the Armed Forces.

The Cartel Landscape of the Area 

Miguel Aleman is a well known and quite lucrative drug corridor that is currently disputed between the Gulf Cartel (CDG) and Northeast Cartel (CDN). It is also a key area for human smuggling as well as kidnapping for ransom on the nearby highways. In recent months, the Nuevo-Laredo-based CDN has been attempting incursions into Miguel Aleman which has historically been under CDG control. It is unknown if the 14 alleged kidnappers belonged to CDN or CDG as of the writing of this story.

As previously covered on Borderland Beat, at the end of June 2021, there was a large battle between the CDN and CDG forces in Los Guerra, the aforementioned town west of Miguel Aleman. The results of said battle led to 9 bodies of CDG gunmen being left on the roadside by CDN in a grotesque display. Then in July 2021, 5 CDN gunmen were killed by SEDENA soldiers at a narco camp in Miguel Aleman. Then later that month, there was a large seizure of CDG weapons and armored vehicles by members of the Special Operations Group (GOPES).

The CDG commanders in the Miguel Aleman area are Cesar Morfin Morfin, alias "El Primito" and his brother Alvaro, alias "R-8". They have the support of another high-ranking CDG member known as "Metro 37" and/or "Comandante Robledo" as well as the backing of the CDG Nuevo Leon faction headed by "Comandante Cubano".

Meanwhile the CDN commanders in the Miguel Aleman area are Ricardo Chapa ("El Ricky") and another suspect simply known as "El Amarillo", both of whom report to CDN boss Juan Gerardo Treviño Chavez ("El Huevo").

Sources: El Sol de Tampico, Frontera al Rojo Vivo, Hoy Tamaulipas, Mexico Codigo Rojo, El Bravo, CBN

Borderland Beat Reference Articles: 9 CDG Gunmen Left on Road, 5 CDN Killed by SEDENA, Large CDG Weapon and Vehicle Seizure