What is known about the kidnapping of 4 Americans in northwestern Mexico

It is a kidnapping that has the authorities of Mexico and the United States on alert.

On March 3, four people were attacked and kidnapped in northeastern Mexico while traveling through Matamoros, a city in the state of Tamaulipas.

The town is located directly across the border from Brownsville , Texas. Personnel from both North American nations participate in the investigations.

Here we tell you what is known about this case.

Kidnapping

According to authorities, the victims were driving a white van with North Carolina license plates when a group of unidentified gunmen fired at them.

Then they put them in another vehicle and took them away.

The United States has not confirmed the statement by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that the Americans crossed the border to buy medicine.

“There was a confrontation between groups and they were kidnapped,” López Obrador said Monday.

A Mexican official told the Reuters news agency that the abductees were three men and a woman.

A Mexican citizen died in the incident , US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar said in a statement.

“We do not have a higher priority than the security of our citizens,” said the ambassador.

“Officials from various United States law enforcement are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to achieve the safe return of our compatriots,” he continued.

For its part, the FBI reported that it collaborates with the investigation . This agency is seeking the public's help and is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the release of the victims and the arrest of those involved.

What governments have said

On Monday, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House was closely monitoring the assault and kidnapping.

“Our thoughts are with the families of these people,” he said.

The Mexican government is likely to prioritize the search for US citizens to avoid a cross-border problem between the two countries .

López Obrador commented during a press conference on Monday that he had been in contact with the governor of Tamaulipas over the weekend about these events.

“I think it will be resolved,” said López Obrador. “That is what I expect”.

What happens in Tamaulipas

Tamaulipas is one of six states in Mexico that the US State Department advises travelers not to visit due to its dangerousness.

In an area where drug cartels control much of the territory and often have more power than local law enforcement.

According to the State Department, organized crime, including shootings, murders, armed robberies, car thefts, kidnappings, enforced disappearances, extortion, and sexual assaults, is common along the northern border. including the state from Tamaulipas.

Criminal groups have attacked buses and cars traveling across the state , often seizing passengers and demanding ransom payments in an area where local police have limited ability to respond to crime, the State Department said.

The US government estimates that hundreds of thousands of Americans cross the border into Mexico each year to receive health care services, including prescription drugs. Most Americans cite lower costs as the most common reason for receiving treatment abroad.