5 American Tourists Kidnapped by Gulf Cartel Members Were Rescued in Tamaulipas

 "Socalj" for Borderland Beat

Last week, members of the Gulf Cartel (CDG) allegedly kidnapped 5 American tourists who were traveling through Mexico. Mexican authorities rescued the tourists, and over the weekend they recovered the victim's vehicles, arresting several members believed to be part of the local cell of the Gulf Cartel.

The recovered vehicles included a blue Lamborghini Urus, a Jeep JL Wrangler, and Jeep Cherokee. The rescued hostages are originally from the Dominican Republic and are naturalized US citizens having left Florida to travel to Veracruz, Mexico.

Mexican authorities speak with one of the rescued tourists.

Kidnapping

The kidnapping occurred on Thursday, June 1, 2023, in the city of Soto de La Marina, in Tamaulipas, where, according to reports, a checkpoint was established at one of the city's entrances. Based on the area and those later arrested, it was likely to have been set up by members of the Gulf Cartel.

The five victims are identified as Joel Rodríguez, Brian Lazala, Ramón Méndez, Bonifacio Sánchez, and Carlos Núñez, all originally from the Dominican Republic but residing in the United States.

After the kidnapping, a relative of one of the victims called Mexican authorities from the United States, reporting that his brother had been kidnapped. He also explained that he had lost all communications with the group and that their phones were turned off. 

On Friday morning, authorities detected a convoy of gunmen heading to Soto de La Marina through the surveillance camera network in the area. The Tamaulipas Attorney General's Office (FGJE) traveled to Soto La Marina to investigate.

Rescue

“After reporting C4, suspicious vehicles in #SotoLaMarina, and after repelling an attack, Police Investigators from the #FGJT and State Guards this morning secured 4 weapons and rescued a person reported as missing. Investigations continue." The Tamaulipas Secretary of Security reported.

Suspicious vehicles, possibly including the Jeeps taken from the tourists, were seen in the area and began to attack authorities when stopped. A white Ford truck belonging to the gunmen got stuck in the mud and the authorities repelled the attack. After the attack was over, authorities seized the truck, rescuing one of the men. 

Four weapons, one with an attached grenade launcher, and bulletproof vests were found as well as one of the disappeared tourists.

Hours later, the Tamaulipas Prosecutor's Office confirmed the release of the other four men, who, according to reports, are in good health. They had been left on the side of the highway connecting Soto La Marina to Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas.

Lamborghini Recovery & Arrest

On Saturday, June 3, 2023, FGJE investigators located one of the vehicles in which the tourists were traveling, the blue Lamborghini Urus, in the border city of Matamoros.

Some early reports and rumors were circulating that the operation had resulted in the arrest of "La Kena," driving the blue Lamborghini Urus. José Alberto "La Kena" García Vilano, known by the codename "Ciclon-19" is said to be the leader of the CDG cell in Matamoros, having been the second in command prior to the arrest of Jose "El Contador" Alfredo Cardenas Martinez in March of last year. 

Following the arrest, an internal power struggle for control occurred between the Kena-led faction and "El Contador's" son, Axel Cardenas. A truce and cease-fire treaty was announced via a narco manta that the collective Matamoros was allied and would not attack Los Metros, another faction of the Gulf Cartel.

Sergio "El Ciego" Guevara Vásquez was spotted driving the stolen Lamborghini Ursu and arrested.

But the detained man was identified as Sergio "El Ciego" Guevara Vásquez. "El Ciego" is allegedly a member of the Gulf Cartel in Matamoros operating under "La Kena." This group out of Matamoros, is the same that had kidnapped 4 Americans, killing two, on March 3, 2023. The two surviving hostages were released and the cartel gave up the men said to be responsible for the attack.

Graphics by HEARST

Sources Demoniotv, El Mañana, El Mañana, EsEuro, ElGuzman, SSP Tamaulipas, American Post, Reynosa Codigo Rojo