68 people kidnapped by drug cartel rescued in northern Mexico

68 people kidnapped by drug cartel rescued in northern Mexico

2011-04-21 05:05:34 GMT+7 (ICT)

MEXICO CITY (BNO NEWS) -- Sixty-eight people, including 12 Central American migrants, allegedly kidnapped by a drug cartel were rescued on Tuesday in Mexico's northern state of Tamaulipas, authorities said Wednesday.

The Public Safety Department said federal agents found the migrants in a home located in the city of Reynosa near the border with Texas after checking on a tip and running into two armed men. The gunmen hid in the house and were later arrested.

The victims included eight Guatemalans, two Hondurans, a Salvadoran and a Panamanian. They told police they were taken by persons claiming to be members of the criminal group of the Gulf Cartel when traveling on bus passengers, heading to the bus station in Reynosa or from the station itself.

Police recovered from the site three vehicles with gunshots, two other cars, a rifle, six rounds of ammunition, and a pistol.

Earlier this month, police found 145 bodies in mass graves located in Tamaulipas while investigating reports that passengers from a bus were kidnapped in late March. It is believed that they were people who refused to enlist within the ranks of 'Los Zetas' drug cartel.

In August 2010, members of Los Zetas also killed 72 Central and South American migrants in the same municipality.

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