Seven Electricians Released after Kidnapping in Matehuala, San Luis Potosí

By “El Huaso” for Borderland Beat

After two days of being held captive by a criminal group in Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, seven electricians who were kidnapped while traveling to a job site were released. One of the workers stated in an interview that he believes the criminal group sought to recruit them for an electrical project.

On the morning of March 21 as the group was traveling along Highway 57 toward their jobsite, a pickup truck with armed men intercepted them and forced them to stop. They were taken at gunpoint, and transported to a safehouse. The victim said they were blindfolded and tied up the entire time.

“A van arrived and they picked us up, depriving us of our freedom. They took us to a safe house. They blindfolded and tied us up. It was a very traumatic experience; we thought we would never see our families again,” one of the victims told Milenio.

During captivity, their captors told them the motive was forced recruitment, specifically to use their electrical skills for criminal activities. Eventually, on the morning of their release, they were told to get into a vehicle and were later dropped off, from where they walked to a toll booth to seek help. They were taken to a hospital and then the All of the kidnapping victims were confirmed to be in good health.

News of the mass kidnapping spread rapidly across social media and the press. Over 500 soldiers and police officers were deployed to search for them. It is possible the viral reaction online led to the government pressure, which forced the criminals to release the captives. 

Today, Jorge Peña, Secretary of Public Security of Matehuala, San Luis Potosí, was arrested for his alleged participation in the kidnapping. In his work vehicle, authorities found 52 bags of marijuana and three bags of methamphetamine. 

In the past, Matehuala was considered territory of the Cartel del Noreste. Today, researchers have identified at least six criminal organizations operating the municipality, complicating pinpointing the kidnapping on one group.

Criminal groups have been known to kidnap electricians and CCTV technicians, either on suspicion they assisted rivals with their surveillance networks, or because they want the workers to install their own.

Sources: Milenio, Quinto Poder, Excelsior, Noroeste, El crimen organizado y la violencia en San Luis Potosí by Samantha Pérez Dávila, Grupo Animal