Posted on 12/01/2009 12:24:50 PM PST by SwinneySwitch
McALLEN — U.S. federal authorities continue to question a man who was kidnapped from a local coffee shop and held for ransom in Mexico for nearly a week.
Raul Alvarado’s abductors allegedly demanded a ransom of $30,000 and two luxury vehicles. But it remains unclear whether any payments were made before Mexican police discovered him bound and beaten in a Reynosa stash house Friday.
Alvarado, 36, of McAllen, told Mexican officials that he had intended to meet a business contact from Reynosa at the Starbucks Coffee near the intersection of Expressway 83 and South 10th Street on Nov. 23, when he was forced into a vehicle at gunpoint.
His captors initially demanded $100,000 for his release but later lowered their requirement once he said his family wouldn’t be able to meet that sum.
Reynosa police found him four days later at a home on the city’s northeast side and transported him to a local hospital before handing him off to U.S. authorities Friday afternoon, federal investigators said.
None of the alleged kidnappers were arrested during the raid.
While kidnappings for ransom have long been a threat in western border communities, similar incidents have until recently remained relatively isolated in the Rio Grande Valley, said local FBI spokesman Jorge Cisneros.
But in the past year, local law enforcement agencies have investigated more abduction cases involving victims being taken across the border. Most of these cases, however, have involved victims with ties to illegal activity, he said.
“Increased law enforcement presence in the United States and Mexico has pushed people to more forcefully pursue their drug debts,” he said. “But I don’t want (innocent) people to think they have to be fearful walking the streets of the Valley.”
Investigators have released no evidence to suggest a drug-related motive behind Alvarado’s abduction. He could not be reached for comment Monday.
I worked with a guy in the 80’s who was Hispanic, but born in America. He lived in McAllen, and would not go across the border then.
Ping
I wouldn’t go back to the Vally for all the money in Texas.
Valle ping!
If you want on, or off this S. Texas/Mexico ping list, please FReepMail me.
Too bad. I understand Coastal has a propane facility in Hildago that needs updating. It is rumored to have electrical problems...
XXXXX - provided electrical and Instrumentation field design and commissioning services for a single lane Propane/Butane truck loading terminal. This terminal was a fast track project designed to quickly capture a market. It made innovative and effective use of relocated equipment and existing decommissioned facilities from other services. The new equipment included station PLC, motor starters, weigh scale, product pumps and most required instrumentation. New cable was pulled and existing conduit was used where practical. All drawings, procurement and instructions were provided at the job site near McAllen, Texas.
This one? ................ ;<)
Looks familiar.
The first Sparky landed in a Mexican prison. His replacement, while at least sober, was a bit of a coward and ran home before they turned it on.
LOL!
The first Sparky still owes me a thousand bucks.
The second owes you a beer or three at least.
Good help is hard to find and harder yet to keep.
On a Mexican tombstone:
“But in the past year, local law enforcement agencies have investigated more abduction cases involving victims being taken across the border. Most of these cases, however, have involved victims with ties to illegal activity, he said”
That’s because we’ve allowed the south of the border ‘family values’ types to immigrate unrestricted. And we’re paying the price with US citizen blood. We’ll be seeing more of this, because it pays so well! But when they all get amnesty, they will turn from their life of crime....and I have a bridge to sell ya.
“Increased law enforcement presence in the United States and Mexico has pushed people to more forcefully pursue their drug debts,”
If these people wouldn’t get mixed up with the drug dealers they or their families wouldn’t get kidnapped. They bring it on themselves from greed for the fast and big money drugs can bring in.
“US blood” in the Valley is doing business with the Mexican drug dealers for fast and big money. They bring it on themselves.
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