Mexico Kidnapping Update: Drug Cartel Sends Apology Letter

The Gulf Cartel, which Mexican authorities believe to be responsible for kidnapping four American citizens and killing two of them, has issued an apology letter for the deaths of the two Americans.

Images of the apology letter have been circulating online, and a version of that letter has been obtained by CNN, which reported that investigators believe that the letter is authentic.

In the handwritten apology letter, the Gulf Cartel stated that the organization is apologizing to "the society of Matamoros, the relatives of Ms. Areli, and the affected American people and families." It added that the cartel's Scorpion Group also "strongly condemns" the attack, which took place on Friday.

Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera, a professor at George Mason University who studies the cartels, told CNN that Mexican drug cartels in the northeast usually send these kinds of messages to the authorities or rival groups whenever high-profile incidents such as the abduction of the four Americans happen.

Men Who Killed the Two Americans Also Handed Over by the Gulf Cartel

In addition to the apology letter, the cartel responsible for kidnapping the four Americans also handed over five men they claimed were responsible for killing the two Americans.

They were turned over to Mexican authorities, with the letter reading, "We have decided to turn over those who were directly involved and responsible in the events, who at all times acted under their own decision-making and lack of discipline."

The letter claimed that these men went against the cartel's rules, which included "respecting the life and well-being of the innocent."

According to ABC News, a photograph of the five men being bound and lying face down on the pavement has surfaced, and they were all accompanied by the apology letter. However, it is noted that state officials still have not confirmed if they have received new suspects in the kidnapping case.

One state official admitted that the five men were found tied up inside one of the vehicles that Mexican authorities have been searching for with the letter from the gulf cartel.

Meanwhile, the cousin of one of the survivors noted that they will not accept any apology from the cartel.

Apology Letter Came After Local Gulf Cartel Leader Was Arrested

The cartel gave up the two Americans' alleged killers after a local Gulf Cartel leader was arrested by Mexican authorities in Reynosa. The local cartel leader was Ernesto Sanchez-Rivera, who, according to KAKE, is also known to have ties with a more notorious criminal organization, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

However, it is still unclear whether the Gulf Cartel leader's arrest had anything to do with the kidnapping of the four Americans.

Mexican authorities believe that the American tourists, who were in Mexico for tummy-tuck surgery, were kidnapped as a result of mistaken identity as the victims' vehicle was caught in a middle of a firefight between rival gangs and crashed, with its passengers suddenly abducted by armed men.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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