Mexico: 3 Engineers Who Mysteriously Vanished in Michoacan Plagued by Drug Cartels Still Missing After a Month

Three engineers, who have gone missing after they went to Mexico's state of Michoacan plagued by Mexican drug cartels, have yet to be found after a month.

According to Periodico AM, the missing engineers were identified as Erika Paulina Polanco Camarena, 28; Edgar Alejandro Delgadillo Rodriguez, 28; and David Rafael Reyes Betancourt, 42.

The outlet reported that the three were returning from Michoacan on February 22. However, they did not make it back to their homes in Jalisco state.

Earlier this month, the special prosecutor for missing persons in Jalisco, Blanca Trujillo Cuevas, said authorities in Michoacan should handle the case of the missing engineers since it has been found that they were not able to reach Jalisco.

However, the Michoacan Prosecutor's Office has yet to report any progress in the investigation to the three missing engineers.

3 Engineers Went Missing in Mexico's State of Michoacan Plagued by Mexican Drug Cartels

Periodico AM reported that the three engineers went to the municipality of Tancitaro in Michoacan on February 22 to install a new communication "network" equipment for the avocado growers in the state.

The three engineers reportedly worked as computer support specialists. According to reports, Erika's last communication was made on February 22 at around 5:10 p.m., when she sent a message to her mother, telling her they were on their way back to Guadalajara, Jalisco.

Since then, nothing has been heard from them. The three reportedly traveled aboard a Chevrolet Trax SUV with license plates JRS4311.

Marlene, the sister of Erika, said she and her mother went to the Jalisco State Prosecutor's Office on February 24 to file a complaint about her sister's disappearance. However, she noted that the Prosecutor's Office did not carry out a search or provide additional information about the incident, Milenio reported.

Marlene said the family was suffering every day from not knowing if her sister was okay or not.

"We as a family are desperate to find Erika because every day that passes, we don't know what is happening [with her], how she is," she noted.

Families and friends of the missing engineers have already spread photos of the three through social media.

Marlene noted that the missing engineers have families and children who "obviously" wanted them back.

Michoacan State in Mexico Is Being Fought Over by Mexican Drug Cartels

Mexico's state of Michoacan, the largest avocado producer in the world, is known to be home to several Mexican drug cartels.

Several Mexican drug cartels have been fighting for the control of the state, namely the Jalisco Cartel, Carteles Unidos, the remaining members of La Familia Michoacana, and the Caballeros Templarios. The Carteles Unidos or United Cartels reportedly had the support of the Sinaloa Cartel.

Many avocado growers in Michoacan said that drug cartels threatened them or their family members with kidnapping and death unless they paid protection money.

Drug cartels also targeted U.S. personnel working in the state. It can be recalled that the U.S. government suspended all imports of Mexican avocados last month after an American plant safety inspector carrying out an inspection in Uruapan, Michoacan received a threatening message from a drug cartel.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Joshua Summers

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