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06/14/13 (written by petrichk) – On June 12, the Citizen’s Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice (Consejo Ciudadano para la Seguridad Pública y la Justicia Penal, SJP) reported that kidnapping in Mexico has increased 33% in the first six months of Enrique Peña Nieto’s presidency since he took office in December 2012. The Council drew its figures from the National System of Public Security (Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública, SNSP), the Center for Investigation and National Security (Centro de Investigación y Seguridad Nacional, CISEN), and the National Commission of Human Rights (Comisión Nacional de Derechos Humanos, CNDH).

According to the report, between January and April of this year, 555 people were reported kidnapped as compared to 417 incidences during the same period in 2012. México Evalúa, a Mexico City think tank, also reported that an average of 130 people were kidnapped each month thus far in 2013, compared to 109 average monthly abductions last year. As well, SJP’s data shows that 2,756 kidnappings occurred in 2012, at least 5.2% of the victims whom were also killed, which is an increase from the 3.8% of kidnapping victims killed in 2011. The 2012 total is the second highest number of kidnappings by year on record since 1971, only behind the SJP’s 2011 total of 2,979. As reported by the Justice in Mexico Project’s recently released Fact Sheet: Kidnapping Trends in Mexico, the increase in kidnapping began under former President Felipe Calderón’s administration. Data from the Executive Office of the National Public Security System (Secretariado Ejecutivo del Sistema Nacional de Seguridad Pública, SESNSP) within the Interior Ministry (Secretaría de Gobernación, Segob) shows that 12,003 cases of kidnapping were reported from 1997-2012, of which 7,070 were recorded in 2006-2012, almost 60%.

The reports on the rise in kidnappings come on the heels of several high profile kidnappings, including the abduction of 12 people, at least one of whom is a minor, from a nightclub in Mexico City and the disappearance of a United States Marine and his relatives in the state of Tamaulipas. On May 26, police received 12 individual missing persons reports from the Zona Rosa neighborhood in Mexico City, where the victims were taken together from a nightclub, according to eyewitness, by masked men driving white trucks. Some have tied the kidnappings to drug trafficking because two of the victims are the sons of drug traffickers currently serving prison sentences. Others have attributed the incident to increasing criminal activity in the neighborhood, saying that the abductions are an attempt of an external criminal group to seize control of the area.

The month of May also saw another high profile kidnapping when Armando Torres III of the U.S. Marine Corps, his father, Armando Torres II, and uncle, Salvador Torres, were taken from the family’s ranch in La Barranca, Tamaulipas on May 14. An eyewitness described seeing the men forced into a white truck at gunpoint. The Monitor reported that family members believed the abduction was related to demands by drug traffickers that the elder Armando Torres relinquish the ranch because of its strategic location close to the Texas border. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is working in conjunction with Mexican law enforcement to identify the kidnappers and return the Torres’ to safety.

Despite the recent reports and high profile kidnappings, the Peña Nieto administration has been successful in several rescues of kidnapping victims, including the recent liberation of 165 migrant workers in Tamaulipas. On June 4, the Mexican Army stormed a guarded compound in the border state of Tamaulipas and discovered the captive workers. Well over the majority (151) were from other Central American countries including El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, while the remaining 14 individuals were from Mexico. This operation represents the largest successful rescue of kidnapping victims in recent Mexican history. Early reports suggest the coyotes responsible for keeping the migrant workers captive operated as part of either the Zetas or the Gulf cartel. The Zetas have previously been linked to similar crimes, including the 2010 kidnapping and murder of 72 migrants also in the state of Tamaulipas.

Peña Nieto expressed concern during his presidential campaign over the rise of kidnappings from 2006 to present, claiming that upon taking office his administration would tackle the issue head-on to reduce the growing number of cases. However, in his first six months in office, there have been no major developments to address the problem despite pressure from civil society and the general public. For more information on kidnappings in Mexico, check out the Justice in Mexico Project’s Fact Sheet: Kidnapping Trends in Mexico.


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Kidnappings, human trafficking and prostitution are big money makers for the cartels- right after drugs. People say "legalizing drugs" will knock the cartels out of business. I think they'll just further diversify into crimes that hurt the Mexican people more than drugs just passing through Mexico ever did. What upsets me is the few apprehensions and prosecutions that take place for these crimes- we're talking single digits. The same people keep getting better and better at it. Zeta Magazine is reporting there are a lot of new independents here from the mainland who don't pay the plaza and are stirring things up. That could be why violence is ticking up a tad. Nothing to worry about in daylight in the tourist areas (ok- one guy killed at Pepe's hamburgers this week but he wasn't eating). Same game, different players, rules uncertain.

These local kidnap rings are very organized. Three different teams are used to kidnap, hold, and negotiate. They don't even know each other. All specialists.

So many kidnappings go unreported as a condition of live release. The numbers above are unreal.

Originally Posted by DENNIS

So many kidnappings go unreported as a condition of live release. The numbers above are unreal.

I don't think I've ever seen a serious guesstimate. Being fleeced and released quickly and put on a monthly payment plan is the preferable outcome I suppose. We have cousins in TJ who closed their hardware store for two years when serious trouble was imminent. They sent the kids with relatives and laid low away from TJ. They're back and the store is open. I don't know how they knew when it would be safe to return, but they knew. Family's all come together; no one goes through it alone or goes unaffected. They just live life around it. That's hard for me.

As was reported in the news article, the FBI is working in conjunction with Mexican Authorities since the kidnapping of the Marine involves an American. For approximately the last 20 years the FBI was granted extraterritorial jurisdiction any where in the world if an American is kidnapped.

Originally Posted by larry

As was reported in the news article, the FBI is working in conjunction with Mexican Authorities since the kidnapping of the Marine involves an American. For approximately the last 20 years the FBI was granted extraterritorial jurisdiction any where in the world if an American is kidnapped.

That's a good and reassuring point. How does the recent policy shift away from US and Mexican intelligence counterparts working directly together affect the FBI? I'd feel better if it were the NSA, since apparently they monitor every call and e-mail worldwide already.

This PRISM thing sounds like something from the Twilight Zone series.

Originally Posted by Woooosh

...sounds like something from the Twilight Zone series.

Majority Of Senators Can't Be Bothered

StaRtLiNg uPDaTe!!! Obama has seen the light(!!!)



My bad; that was 2007.

Originally Posted by Marty Cortez

Majority Of Senators Can't Be Bothered

StaRtLiNg uPDaTe!!! Obama has seen the light(!!!)



My bad; that was 2007.

They skipped the PRISM briefing? I suppose they undersold it.

Originally Posted by larry

For approximately the last 20 years the FBI was granted extraterritorial jurisdiction any where in the world if an American is kidnapped.

They must have granted that to themselves.