FBI searching for four U.S. citizens allegedly kidnapped in Matamoros, Tamaulipas

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The FBI is searching for four U.S. citizens who have been kidnapped in Mexico, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said on Sunday, March 5th.

The American citizens crossed into Matamoros, in the northeastern state of Tamaulipas just south of Brownsville, Texas, in a white minivan with North Carolina plates on Friday, March 3rd, the US embassy said.

“Shortly after crossing into Mexico, unidentified gunmen shot at the passengers of the vehicle. The gunmen herded the four U.S. citizens into another vehicle and fled the scene with them,” according to the embassy.

The FBI is now asking for the public’s help in identifying who might be responsible and is offering a $50,000 USD reward, the embassy said.

Tamaulipas, Mexico

Oliver Rich, Special Agent in Charge of the San Antonio Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, FBI, whose territory includes the city of Brownsville, Texas, announced today that the FBI is seeking the public’s help to identify the person(s) responsible for the assault and kidnapping of four American citizens, on March 3, 2023, in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

The FBI, its federal partners, and Mexican law enforcement authorities are investigating the case. The FBI announced that it is offering a $50,000 reward for the return of the victims and the capture of those involved.

On March 3, 2023, four United States citizens crossed into Matamoros, Tamaulipas in a white minivan with North Carolina license plates. Shortly after crossing into Mexico, unidentified gunmen shot at the passengers of the vehicle. The gunmen herded the four US citizens into another vehicle and fled the scene with them.

The public is urged to call the San Antonio Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation at 210-225-6741 with any information. Information can also be provided online at the https://tips.fbi.gov website. Persons providing information may remain anonymous.

Anyone with information can contact the FBI’s San Antonio Division at 210-225-6741.

“The general population is recommended to stay at home so as not to expose their integrity, asking parents and teachers if possible to avoid sending their children to school,” the agency shared in a brief bulletin via social networks.

After the clashes reported in the border city, local residents shared images and videos on digital platforms that, among other things, showed the moment in which a group of at least four armed individuals dragged, through the street and in broad daylight the bodies of two people to load them into a white pick-up truck.

Said vehicle was parked in the middle of the road, so while the alleged hitmen maneuvered to take the bodies with them—it is unknown if the victims were alive at the time this occurred—other cars were driving around them.

For its part, the US Consulate issued an alert to recommend citizens not to travel to Tamaulipas, since the entity is classified at level 4, which indicates that the border state cannot be visited as long as there is a notice from from the Department of State.

“The Consulate of the United States in Matamoros has received reports of police activity occurring in the vicinity of Calle Primavera and Lauro Villa in relation to a shooting. Media reports indicate that one person has been killed,” the statement detailed.

Source: Embajada de Estados Unidos en México

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