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TIJUANA, Mexico–Drug traffickers are abducting U.S. citizens and holding them for ransom as a way to get funds now that Mexico is cracking down on drug gangs in the Tijuana area, authorities say.
Mexican intelligence officials say about 30 Americans have been abducted in southern California and taken to Tijuana since November. Many of the victims are of Hispanic origin and hold double nationality.
"Transnational kidnappings are a new way of operating for these criminal groups, mainly in California, and so we are seeking collaboration with the United States," said Rommel Moreno, attorney general of Baja California state.
The FBI in San Diego says it is investigating 16 cases of U.S. residents kidnapped and held in Tijuana between last October and this May.
Wealthy Mexicans have fled Tijuana since 2006 to live in San Diego's posh suburbs and escape the violence that has engulfed the city as drug gangs kill rivals, police officers and even children.
More than 200 people have been kidnapped in Baja California state this year, a third more than in all of 2007, according to Mexican kidnap victims' association Esperanza.
Mexicans are outraged at the recent killing and murder of the 14-year-old son of a wealthy businessman in Mexico City.
Kidnapping has long been a major problem in Mexico but the cross-border seizures are relatively new.
In June, the FBI arrested the leader of a Mexican kidnapping and drug trafficking ring in San Diego. Americans have also been kidnapped in Texas this year and held for ransom in Mexico, the FBI said.
Mexican officials say the powerful Arellano Felix drug cartel in Tijuana is turning to kidnapping after being weakened by the arrest of its leader and battles with rival gangs.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon has made the drugs war one of his main policies since taking office in late 2006. But violence has intensified with about 2,000 people murdered so far this year and even the weakened gangs are still active.
"The break-up of the Arellano Felix organization has not been as complete as we would have wished," said Mexican Attorney General Eduardo Medina Mora.
"They ave moved into other activities such as kidnapping,"
Reuters
