Eagle Pass young man and girlfriend kidnapped and rescued in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico
By: Jose G. Landa, Copyright 2014, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc.
An Eagle Pass, Texas young man and his Mexican girlfriend were kidnapped while attending a musical concert in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, Mexico on Sunday, June 22, 2014, by a group of armed men and women including three body guards of the Piedras Negras, Coahuila Chief of Security (Police Chief) and members of the elite security outfit known as Grupo de Armas y Tacticas Especiales Municipales (GATEM) of the State of Coahuila.
After the young couple were kidnapped on June 22nd, the kidnappers demanded a ransom of three million pesos ($240,000 U.S.Dollars) for the release of the two young persons.
The elite Mexican Marines military unit operating in Piedras Negras, Coahuila rescued the young couple from a home in Piedras Negras, Coahuila where they were being held captive against their will. The young female kidnapped is alleged to be the daughter of a Piedras Negras, Coahuila public official while the young man is an American citizen from Eagle Pass.
The incident has raised an international storm as the alleged kidnappers have been identified as being body guards of the Piedras Negras Police Chief and members of the State of Coahuila elite security force. The kidnapping has raised concerns regarding the lack of confidence of the Piedras Negras Police Force and the State of Coahuila elite security force known as GATEM. Piedras Negras, Coahuila Mayor Fernando Puron has denounced the incident and is calling for reform of the Piedras Negras Police Force.
The incident has also caused many American citizens from losing confidence in visiting and doing business in Piedras Negras, Coahuila, fearing for their safety and well-being.
The case is under investigation by the State of Coahuila Attorney General’s Office. Three suspects have been arrested and interrogated, giving statements on who participated in the kidnapping and how it was planned and executed. More arrests are expected in the near future.
Meanwhile, Eagle Pass and Piedras Negras, Coahuila citizens are stunned by the kidnapping incident of the young couple while relieved that they were rescued before anything worse happened to them.
