A group of cartel gunmen kidnapped a Mexican border state senator and held him for hours, highlighting the control that criminal organizations continue to have in the state of Tamaulipas. The case details remain unknown, but relatives confirmed that the politician was home by Saturday morning. Unofficial information points to the gunmen releasing the politician, who made his way to a nearby house where he asked for help.
The incident took place on Friday afternoon at a ranch in Xicotencatl, Tamaulipas, when a group of more than ten gunmen pulled up to Vicente Verastegui during a public off-roading event and kidnapped him. The gunmen rode in on mopeds and a Volkswagen Jetta. Verastegui is a sitting state senator for the National Action Party (PAN) and is the brother of former gubernatorial candidate Cesar “Truko” Verastegui.
After the kidnapping, top officials of the PAN…
