CIUDAD VICTORIA — A person who claims to speak on behalf of the cartel allegedly responsible for the kidnapping of four Americans, two of whom were murdered, condemned the act, apologized to the families of the victims and said he has turned over the members to authorities. of the group that was involved.
In a handwritten letter obtained by The Associated Press through a Tamaulipas state law enforcement authority, a member of a faction of the Gulf Cartel, the “Los Escorpiones” group, apologized to Matamoros residents, the Mexican woman who Died in the shooting and the four Americans and their families.
It is common for cartels to issue statements or place banners in conspicuous places to intimidate their rivals and the authorities. But also that they disclose information to try to alleviate the tension that, like the current one, could affect their business since it attracts a lot of attention and surveillance to the area.
“We (we) decided to hand over those directly involved and responsible for the facts (facts), who at all times acted under their own determination and indiscipline,” says the letter with numerous misspellings and in which it is added that these individuals they went against the rules of the cartel which, according to them, include respecting “the life and integrity of the innocent.”
The text is written in angular letters with the apparent intention of not being able to trace its author.
A photograph of five men face down on the pavement with their hands tied accompanied the letter, which was shown to the AP by the official on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to share the document.
State authorities did not immediately confirm the arrest of more suspects and as of Thursday had only reported the arrest of one person who was guarding the Americans.
In a statement, the prosecutor’s office specifically investigated on Thursday a clinic where the Americans were taken to receive medical care by their captors as well as the ambulance in which the foreigners were transferred. In the action to secure the property and the vehicle there were no arrests.
Last Friday four United States citizens, three men and one woman, crossed into Matamoros from Texas so that one of them could undergo a cosmetic surgery procedure. Around noon they were shot in the center of Matamoros and then put in a truck.
Authorities located them Tuesday morning on the outskirts of the city. Two of the Americans were dead, one was wounded, and the woman was uninjured.
