Mexican Military: 13 dead, 4 arrested and 6 kidnapping victims rescued Friday
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March 14, 2011 2:43 PM
Naxiely Lopez
The Monitor

McALLEN — The Mexican Military reported the death of 13 alleged cartel members, four arrests and the rescue of six people, believed to be kidnapping victims, during several two separate attacks on Friday.

The most significant incident happened in the small town of San Fernando, located about 70 miles southwest of Reynosa, where ten people were killed, including four women, according to a news release from SEDENA, Mexico’s secretary of defense.

Officials, who did not disclose the victims’ identities, said the incident began after soldiers were attacked by members of organized crime. No other details about the location or events that transpired were given.

After the attack, four people were arrested and five alleged kidnapping victims were rescued, officials said.

In August, 72 migrants from Central and South America were found killed on a ranch near the town, reportedly dominated by the Zetas cartel. Mexican authorities blamed that massacre and the fatal shooting of American missionary Nancy Davis, who died after she and her husband fled an impromptu cartel checkpoint near the town in January, on the Zetas cartel.

During Friday’s attack, soldiers seized 11 vehicles — one of them armored — eight rifles, two handguns, 149 magazines, over 4,200 cartridges, 467 doses of marijuana and an ATV. Military personnel also found 58 military uniforms, 11 bullet-proof vests and 15 cell phones.

A second incident in Tampico, located about 200 miles south of San Fernando, resulted in the death of three others and the rescue of one more kidnapping victim, officials said. Soldiers, who defended themselves after being attacked by alleged cartel members, seized one armored vehicle, a rocket launcher, three grenades, four long arms, three handguns and 769 cartridges.

Those victims were also not identified and no other information regarding the attack was provided.

Naxiely Lopez covers law enforcement and general assignments for The Monitor. She can be reached at (956) 683-4434.

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