Posted on 12/08/2021 8:18:09 AM PST by Mount Athos
Six Mexican nationals are accused of kidnapping nine people and murdering six of them, including three U.S. citizens, authorities said Tuesday.
The group, based in Tijuana, Mexico, was in the custody of Mexican authorities and faces charges there, the U.S. Attorney's Office for Central California said in a news release.
A spokesman for the federal prosecutor’s office in California declined to say whether they will be brought to the U.S.
The group is accused in the U.S. of operating a kidnapping gang for four months last year that often lured victims to meetings under false pretenses, then held them at gunpoint and brutally beat them, the release said.
After victims were assaulted, the group called relatives and demanded money or cars in exchange for their release. Victims were killed if the ransom wasn’t paid, the release said.
The group is also accused of killing victims despite receiving a ransom payment to protect the alleged "conspiracy," authorities said.
A federal grand jury indicted the group on charges of conspiracy to commit hostage taking resulting in death, conspiracy to commit extortion and other crimes.
In one case, after a U.S. citizen from Southern California was alleged to have been kidnapped as he was visiting a relative in Tijuana on April 11, the gang demanded $25,000 for his release, the release said.
After his mother offered $1,000 and her son's car, the group murdered him, authorities allege. His body was found in Mexico the next day, according to the release.
In another case in April, a Pasadena woman told authorities that the group demanded $20,000 in exchange for the release of a relative. Mexican authorities found the victim alive at a Tijuana hotel. It was unclear whether the ransom was paid.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
Perhaps these kidnappings (and murders) of Americans will now be a regular thing.
And I have a niece heading to Tijuana....
I’ve talked to two different acquaintances in the past few weeks who recently vacationed in Mexico. People are either willing to take serious risks or don’t follow the news.
Were the three US citizens of Mexican descent?
Why?
I’d still vacation in Cozumel, but that’s it
there is NOTHING worth yer life in mexco...
Our rule of thumb when visiting Mexico was to get through the border towns as quickly as possible.
The borders are not safe when there is no will or desire to enforce law on either side.
A friend of mine is in the process of moving to Baja, nuts.
This would be a slow news day on the south side of Chicago.
The reason this doesnt make the news more is the victims were latino. Doesnt matter that they were considered citizens. Same with all the violence of MS13. They primarily victimize other Latinos.
Building a house with some Christian outreach group.
Of course. Without a doubt. Who else would be visiting relatives in Tijuana?
Furthermore, I suspect those 3 US citizens were not just there as tourists or bystanders. If I were to wager money on ir, I’d bet they were either gang members or at least involved with importing, smuggling or drug distribution.
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