Close X
Wednesday, November 13, 2024
ADVT 
Interesting

Fed Up with Abductions, Mexican Townsfolk Kidnap Gang Boss' Mother

Darpan News Desk IANS, 17 Dec, 2016 03:05 PM
    After seeing many of their loved ones kidnapped by a ruthless drug cartel, the people of Totolapan, a small town in Mexico's Guerrero state decided it was time to fight fire with fire, so they kidnapped the drug boss' mother.
     
    For years, Totolapan has been under the control of a gang known as "Los Tequillero", led by Raybel Jacobo de Almonte, better known as "El Tequillero". Things had gotten considerably worse for the locals in recent months, as the Tequilleros had become involved in a turf war with other gangs, and started abducting people whom they suspected were supporting their rivals. Sick of living under the constant terror of having their loved ones taken from them, the townsfolk decided to fight back.
     
    On Monday, a few dozen masked men appeared in the streets of Totolapan waving rifles and shotguns, and calling for action against El Tequillero. They identified themselves as a "self-defense" force, as Mexican vigilantes usually call themselves, and demanded the release of kidnapping victims taken by the gang.
     
    "We urgently demand the release of the kidnap victims," one of the masked men said during a recorded statement. "We are a legitimate self-defense force of the people." And to make sure that their demands are taken seriously by the Tequilleros, they let them know that they have a valuable bargaining chip.
     
    "We have your mother here, Mr. Tequilero. I propose an exchange: I'll give you your mother if you give me my husband, but I want him safe and sound," said the wife of Isauro de la Paz Duque, a local construction engineer that was kidnapped by the gang last week, after they had threatened to kill him.
     
    El Tequillero's mother, who is shown sitting on the floor of an empty room with just a ventilation fan beside her, is just one of two dozen people kidnapped by the vigilantes as suspected members of the drug gang.
     
    The Guerrero state Government recently sent 220 soldiers and policemen to Totolapan to diffuse the situation, as well as a negotiation team. Reports state that several hostages have been released by the self-defense force, but El Tequillero's mother remains in their custody. Authorities said that they understand the locals' frustration, but they are going about the situation the wrong way.
     
    "The truth is, they are not really community forces, nor are they police," Governor Hector Astudillo has said. "They are armed groups that unfortunately carry out acts... that generate more violence and confrontation, rather than help."
     
    However, the kidnapping of El Tequillero's mother seems to have had the desired effect, as Mexican news website Debate yesterday reported that the boss agreed to release engineer Isauro de la Paz Duque in exchange for his mother. The swap was overseen by the state Government negotiations team. For the time being, the military and police forces will remain in Totolapan to prevent any retaliations by the Tequilleros.
     
    Located at the foot of the mountains that produce much of Mexico's opium poppy crops, the are around Totolapan is notorious for drug trafficking, killings and extortion. The town itself is reportedly so dangerous that many of its outlying hamlets have been abandoned by their frightened residents.

    MORE Interesting ARTICLES

    Chilliwack Cattle Sales Faces $300,000 Fine In Animal Abuse Case

    Chilliwack Cattle Sales Faces $300,000 Fine In Animal Abuse Case
    CHILLIWACK, B.C. — A company that owns a dairy farm in British Columbia's Fraser Valley and one of its directors have pleaded guilty in a cattle abuse case that was the first of its kind in the province.

    Chilliwack Cattle Sales Faces $300,000 Fine In Animal Abuse Case

    Some Baloney To Clark's Claim B.C. Will Pay Twice As Much For Carbon As Ontario

    Some Baloney To Clark's Claim B.C. Will Pay Twice As Much For Carbon As Ontario
    For a brief moment last Friday, it looked like B.C. Premier Christy Clark might scuttle Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's hopes of emerging from a day-long first ministers meeting with a pan-Canadian framework agreement to combat climate change.

    Some Baloney To Clark's Claim B.C. Will Pay Twice As Much For Carbon As Ontario

    Want A Hippo For Christmas? The Story Of A Girl Who Got One

    Want A Hippo For Christmas? The Story Of A Girl Who Got One
    LOS ANGELES — All a cute, curly haired 10-year-old girl named Gayla Peevey wanted for Christmas in 1953 was a hippopotamus.

    Want A Hippo For Christmas? The Story Of A Girl Who Got One

    Man Targeted By Creep Catchers Sentenced To Prison For Child Luring

    Man Targeted By Creep Catchers Sentenced To Prison For Child Luring
    Don Putt was sentenced to six months, but with credit for time served he will spend five months and two days behind bars.

    Man Targeted By Creep Catchers Sentenced To Prison For Child Luring

    WATCH: This Cute Toddler Criticising PM Narendra Modi For Demonetisation Is Winning The Internet

    WATCH: This Cute Toddler Criticising PM Narendra Modi For Demonetisation Is Winning The Internet
    Cutest Critique Of Demonetisation So Far?

    WATCH: This Cute Toddler Criticising PM Narendra Modi For Demonetisation Is Winning The Internet

    How Santa Delivers Presents On Christmas Eve Explained

    How Santa Delivers Presents On Christmas Eve Explained
    The mystery of how Father Christmas can deliver presents to 700 million children in one night, fit down the chimney and arrive without being seen or heard has been explained by a UK physicist using Einstein's special relativity theory.

    How Santa Delivers Presents On Christmas Eve Explained