Americans Vanish In Mexican Town
Drug Cartels Competing Along Border Suspected in Increased Kidnappings
By Mary Jordan
Washington Post Foreign Service
Saturday, January 22, 2005; Page A10
....Cisneros, Martinez and Contreras (three young people who crossed the border for a night out, and to attend a social event) are now listed among the dramatically increased number of U.S. citizens who have recently been reported missing or kidnapped along the border, especially around Nuevo Laredo. Last month, U.S. consular officials here issued a warning to the thousands of Americans who cross the bridge each week, including Mexican Americans visiting relatives or shopping and tourists on short sightseeing trips.
"U.S. citizens are urged to be especially aware of safety and security concerns when traveling through or visiting in Nuevo Laredo," it said. The message said 21 U.S. citizens had been kidnapped or had disappeared between August and December, with nine later released, two found dead and 10 still missing. It also mentioned the "alarming rate" of kidnappings that has continued for some time across Mexico, including "express" abductions for quick-cash ransoms.
One U.S. official said that while some of the missing appear to have been innocent victims, more were probably involved with drug traffickers. In either case, "no one deserves to be kidnapped, tortured or killed," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the international sensitivity of the issue. "We're seeing outright lawlessness in Nuevo Laredo. Things are just getting out of hand."...
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Until recently, drug-related violence was generally confined to the Mexican side of the border. Now, officials say, it is directly affecting the United States, both in higher numbers of incidents and in more brazen attacks....The rise in violence has caused alarm in both Mexico City and Washington. About 40 percent of the goods passing from Mexico into the United States cross the border here by truck or rail, and many worry that the problem could hurt legitimate commerce in the fast-growing area....
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A27657-2005Jan21.html