Mexican authorities have confirmed an additional five suspects have been arrested for their alleged roles in the recent kidnappings of four Americans in Matamoros, Tamaulipas according to CNN.
In a Twitter announcement made on March 10 by Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios Mojica, Fiscal General de Justicia de Tamaulipas (FGJT) arrested the suspects on a warrant for the crimes of aggravated kidnapping and intentional simple homicide in connection to the March 3 incident. Of the four individuals kidnapped, Zindell Brown and Shaeed Woodard were discovered deceased while the two survivors, Latavia Washington McGee and Eric Williams were transported to a Texas hospital on March 8. The four individuals had reportedly traveled from South Carolina across the border for cosmetic surgery when they were caught in gunfire and subsequently abducted by cartel members.
Source: Tamaulipas State Attorney General’s Office pic.twitter.com/jkrrEUimCa
— Carlos Suarez (@CarlosSuarezCNN) March 10, 2023
While the identities of the five individuals arrested by FGJT have not yet been released, Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal identified 24-year-old Jose “N,” as the person who was previously arrested on March 7. Jose N. is believed to be the person tasked with the “surveillance functions of the victims.” It appears there are now at least six individuals in custody for their alleged connection to the crime. The leader of the Gulf Cartel, previously wanted for kidnappings in the past, was also reportedly arrested about 55 miles west of Matamoros in the city of Reynosa.
“The Tamaulipas Attorney General’s Office (#FGJT) performed an arrest warrant against 5 people linked to the events of March 3 in Matamoros, for the crimes of aggravated kidnapping and intentional simple homicide. One more person who was arrested in recent days, was linked to the process,” Attorney General Barrios Mojica wrote in a translated version of his tweet on March 10.
The arrest of the individuals follows the release of a letter from the Mexican drug trafficking group the Gulf Cartel, which took responsibility for the kidnappings and apologized for the incident in a lengthy statement. The Gulf Carter also previously revealed that they had turned over members of the group to the authorities in the statement.
“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 handwritten letter read.
The letter also appeared to take responsibility for the death of a 33-year-old church official ID’d as Arely Servando — who was purportedly hit by a stray bullet as a bystander during the abduction.
“The [Gulf Cartel] apologizes to the society of Matamoros, the relatives of Ms. Areli, and the affected American people and families,” the letter read.
BREAKING! All of this to avoid U.S doing an “Operation Free Mexico” from Cartels 🇺🇸 | 🇲🇽
Mexican Gulf Cartels have allegedly wrote “an apology letter” to the families of the four kidnapped Americans ( two of them slain)
.. Along w/letter they’ve turned over 5 members whom they… https://t.co/GHvxi7C7WO pic.twitter.com/wZR4MoUJg9— 4ortunefame💰✨👑✨💰 (@4ortunefame) March 9, 2023
Multiple reports appear to allege that members of the Gulf Cartel attacked the Americans in Matamoros, after mistaking them for rival Haitian drug smugglers. During a press conference on March 10, Barrios Mojica explained that information obtained by authorities probing the crime suggests that the Americans were not specific targets of the Gulf Cartel.
“From how the exchange of investigation took place, everything seems to be that it was a misunderstanding,” Barrios Mojica said in Spanish.
In a separate tweet, Barrios Mojica confirmed the corpses of Brown and Woodward were delivered to United States diplomatic authorities Thursday after undergoing forensic examinations. All four victims were reportedly shuttled to several locations before being found in a house in Matamoros on March 7, Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal told CNN. Tamaulipas prosecutors have also reportedly found an ambulance that was used to take the victims to a clinic for first aid treatment.