The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) confirmed that four US citizens were kidnapped in Matamoros, Tamaulipas State, Mexico, on March 3, 2023. The individuals were crossing the border from Brownsville, Texas, to Matamoros to seek medical treatment when criminals opened fire on their vehicle. Matamoros is a city under the control of Gulf Cartel factions that extort businesses, traffic migrants, and smuggle fentanyl and other drugs across the nearby Rio Grande.
As of March 7, authorities have located the four US nationals kidnapped. Two of the victims were deceased, while the other two were found alive; one of the survivors was injured. Authorities are working to capture those responsible and have arrested at least one person in connection with the incident.
Heightened security is likely in the Matamoros area over the short term. Authorities may set up checkpoints on roads and highways in and near the city, causing transport disruptions.
There is a significant threat of kidnapping in parts of Mexico. Crisis24 currently rates the overall kidnap threat in Mexico as “High” with pockets of Mexico rated as “Extreme”. The area where the kidnap incident occurred is rated as High.
The threat extends to both foreigners and locals; however, locals are more likely to be targeted. The most common types of abduction in Mexico include basic opportunistic kidnap-for-ransom, express kidnapping, and virtual kidnapping. Criminal organizations have infiltrated police forces in certain areas, and some officers are complicit in kidnappings. For this reason, many kidnappings go unreported for fear of retaliatory attacks.
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Mark Niblett, Chief Security Officer and Senior Vice President of Response Operations, discusses the risk associated with traveling to Mexico and tips for traveling confidently in Mexico.
March 2023 Kidnap Incident in Mexico Risk Intelligence Alerts
Crisis24 provides actionable risk intelligence to help organizations make informed decisions about their people and operations. Below are risk intelligence alerts issued during the March 2023 kidnap incident in Matamoros, Mexico.
Intelligence Alert | March 3, 2023
Authorities launch security operation in Matamoros, Mexico, March 3 after 'armed incidents,' recommend that all individuals remain indoors.
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Intelligence Alert | Update 1: March 6, 2023
Assailants kidnap four US nationals in Matamoros, Tamaulipas State, Mexico March 3.
View Alert
Intelligence Alert | Update 2: March 7, 2023
Authorities find US nationals kidnapped in Matamoros, Tamaulipas State, Mexico, and make at least one arrest as of March 7.
View Alert
On March 8, 2023, the Wall Street Journal interviewed Crisis24’s Michael Baney, America’s Intelligence Analyst Team Lead about the recent incident. Read the Article
A Look Beyond the Horizon – A Longer-term View of Kidnap Risk in Mexico
In Crisis24’s Global Risk Forecast 2023, intelligence analysts take a forward-leaning look at prominent risks in the global operating environment. Latin America, specifically, faces challenges to social and political stability in the year ahead amid the current economic climate.
Economic hardships and weak governments are likely to contribute to elevated levels of violence in Latin America, where criminal groups can take advantage of the states’ limited capabilities. In Mexico, powerful drug-trafficking organizations will likely continue to expand their reach and carry out violent attacks as the country fails to implement an effective security strategy.
Global Risk Forecast 2023
To read more about the near-term risk profile in Mexico, get your copy of the Global Risk Forecast 2023. The annual report includes security risk rating maps, including a Kidnap Security Risk Assessment Rating map, and comprehensive analyses of regions and categories such as health, environment, transportation, maritime, and cyber security.
Get Crisis24’s Global Risk Forecast 2023
Webinar
Crisis24 intelligence analyst, Michael Baney, shares an in-depth focus on unique risks in Latin America, including the kidnap threat in Mexico and influence of drug trafficking organizations.
