Five bound men were left for Tamaulipas police along with a note disavowing their actions
A faction of the Gulf Cartel drug cartel apologized Thursday for what they called a rogue operation that resulted in the deaths of a Mexican and two American citizens near the town of Matamoros. Mexican police found five handcuffed men in a vehicle, along with a note explaining the situation.
“We have decided to extradite those directly involved and responsible for the events, who at all times acted on their own decision-making and indiscipline.” said the note, provided to the media by a police source in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas. The five men went against the rules of the cartel, including “with respect for the life and well-being of the innocent”, it added.
The letter was signed by the Scorpions faction of the Gulf Cartel, which controls drug distribution in Matamoros, across the Rio Grande from the US state of Texas.
Four Americans traveling to Matamoros last Friday were captured by the cartel after a shootout that left a local woman dead. They were identified as Latavia McGee, Zindell Brown, Eric Williams and Shaeed Woodard. Another woman, Cheryl Orange, was denied entry, according to local media, because she did not have the correct documents.
Orange told the AP the group had traveled from South Carolina to Mexico, so McGee had a “tummy tuck” cosmetic surgery. The Daily Mail reported on Thursday that Brown, McGee, Williams and Woodard all had histories of drug charges.
When Tamaulipas authorities tracked them down Tuesday morning, in the nearby town of El Tecolote, McGee was “Barefoot and covered in dirt,” while Williams had a gunshot wound to the left leg. Brown and Woodard had been murdered. Their remains were returned to the US on Wednesday.
Police arrested a 24-year-old Mexican who they say was guarding the detainees. He was only identified as “Jose N.”
Tamaulipas Attorney General Irving Barrios thanked the public for sharing the kidnapping footage online and said they were helping with the investigation. He added that authorities were initially unaware that the victims were Americans, but contacted the US once they identified the license plates on their minivan.
You can share this story on social media:
