US Consulate in Matamoros extends travel warning as kidnappings soar in Tamaulipas -- UPDATED
2013-02-23
Posted by: badanov
For a map, click here. For a map of tamaulipas state, click here.
UPDATE: Updating with new information that Wendy Soto Misell was with her biological mother.
By Chris Covert
Rantburg.com
The US Consulate in Matamoros in Tamaulipas state has extended a warning to its citizens and employees about travelling on the highway in Tamaulipas, according to Mexican news accounts.
According to a news report posted on the website of Milenio news daily, the US Consulate based in Matamoros in Tamaulipas has extended an advisory it originally issued last November against travel in northern areas of Tamaulipas state. According to the report, the specific concerns listed were of armed robbery and kidnapping, especially on the roads linking Matamoros and Reynosa.
This writer was unable to locate the specific warning extension. The November 20th, 2012 travel warning was issued by the US State Department for the entire nation of Mexico. The US Consulate in Hermosillo, Sonora state had issued travel restrictions for US government employees travelling in Mexico, especially between Nogales and Hermosillo in Sonora. Those warnings were issued just days after the massive intergang shootout in Tubutama in Sonora early July 2010.
A separate warning was released December 14th, 2012 by the US Consulate in Matamroros due to the threat of kidnapping and carjacking, which occurred outside of Matamoros and Renosa.
Nuevo Laredo, west of Reynosa, has experienced a severe spike in kidnapping, particularly of teens in the past week. A news report posted on El Manana news daily said that four cases of kidnapped youths from age 13 to 20 have been reported in Nuevo Laredo. The article claims that Tamaulipas government authorities are helpless or are unable to investigate the abductions.
The report also said that parents have been forced to investigate the disappearances of their children.
A separate article which also appeared on the website of El Manana reported that a nine year old girl, identified as Wendy Soto Misell, disappeared and was presumed kidnapped last Wednesday at around 1200 hrs. The report said that Wendy attended La Primaria Luis Donaldo Colosio school in Nuevo Laredo.
A separate article which also appeared on the website of El Manana reported that a nine year old girl, identified as Wendy Soto Misell, disappeared and was presumed kidnapped last Wednesday at around 1200 hrs. The report said that Wendy attended La Primaria Luis Donaldo Colosio school in Nuevo Laredo.
However a later news brief in El Manana said that Wendy had been with her biological mother right along.
Chris Covert writes Mexican Drug War and national political news for Rantburg.com
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