Cross-border kidnappings down

Published: Sept. 7, 2010 at 5:37 PM

SAN DIEGO, Sept. 7 (UPI) -- Cross-border kidnappings by Mexican drug gangs in Southern California have dropped sharply this year, authorities say.

The FBI reports there have been 13 in the current federal fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30, the San Diego Union-Tribune said. In fiscal 2008 and 2009 there were 26, and 20 in 2007, up from 12 in 2006.

Keith Slotter, special agent in charge of the FBI's San Diego office, said declaring victory would be premature. He said other kinds of organized violence in the San Diego-Tijuana area has not slowed down.

Law enforcement has been stepped up on both sides of the border, experts say, with several recent high-profile indictments of gang members.

Investigators say the cartels sometimes use kidnapping as a way of punishing wrongdoers.

Mario Leyva was abducted in 2007 in California after a drug deal went sour when 200 pounds of marijuana was stolen. He testified earlier this year that he was held for seven months in Tijuana, moved often and occasionally beaten hard.

He was released after seven months when his family paid a ransom. While his abductors apparently expected him to join their business, he reported the kidnapping to police instead and then moved out of the area.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/09/ ... 283895464/