Reyes relative kidnapped; U.S. helps secure release

By Daniel Borunda and Ramon Bracamontes / El Paso Times
Article Launched: 06/25/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

A woman who reportedly is a relative of Congressman Silvestre Reyes was kidnapped in Juárez, then released with the help of U.S. law enforcement agencies.

Reyes, D-Texas, declined to comment. The kidnapping was first reported on the Narcosphere Web site, which attributed the report and knowledge of the victim's relationship to Reyes to a DEA official in El Paso.

Though the Web site reported the kidnapped person was Reyes' sister-in-law, another federal agency and other officials are saying that some of the facts in the online report might be wrong, including the connection to Reyes.

Relatives of Reyes told Channel 9-KTSM (cable Channel 10) off camera that they were told not to comment.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement was the lead U.S. agency in the incident, but the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration were also involved. However, neither agency would release any details, including when the incident took place.

"I have nothing to say about that," DEA spokesman Matthew Taylor, who was quoted in the Narco News report, said.

ICE released only the following statement: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), along with several other federal law enforcement agencies, recently worked cooperatively to assist Mexican law enforcement authorities to help secure the release of
a victim who was kidnapped in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.
"Although the victim was returned to her family, this investigation is ongoing. Therefore, no further information is releasable at this time," the statement read.

Kidnappings in Juárez generally target Mexican citizens, and spokeswomen for the FBI and ICE would not disclose whether the kidnapped woman was a citizen of the U.S. or Mexico.

FBI spokeswoman Special Agent Andrea Simmons did say the bureau had received no reports of U.S. citizens kidnapped in Juárez.

The FBI and ICE have worked with Mexican authorities in the past regarding kidnappings on the border.

The incident comes as kidnappings have become more common in Juárez possibly due to drug trafficking gangs snatching victims targeted for death or marks held for ransom to raise funds for the ongoing war for control of the region's smuggling corridor.

Fears of kidnappings, extortion and violence that has claimed nearly 500 lives this year have caused some Juarenses to move to El Paso and even seek asylum in the United States.

The killings have continued daily. Monday, an unidentified man's dismembered body was found in Rancho Anapra, state police said. The head, arms and legs were found in separate backpacks about 50 meters away from the torso, which was wrapped in a blanket. At least four deaths occurred Tuesday.

A group of about 300 owners of junk yards, mechanic shops, used-car lots and other auto-related businesses have closed down because of kidnappings and robberies, the Norte de Ciudad Juárez newspaper reported Tuesday.

Last week, four members of the union of yonkeros (junk yard owners) were kidnapped and released after paying thousands of dollars, the Norte reported.

Crime news was not all bad. Juárez police said Tuesday that home burglaries dropped by 60 percent in the first five months of the year compared with 2007.

Silvio Gonzalez, the public affairs officer for the U.S. Consulate in Juárez, said there were no figures available on how U.S. citizens have been kidnapped or killed in Juárez but that U.S. citizens have been kidnapped in Mexico in the past. Authorities said that families of victims linked to the drug trade may be reluctant to report kidnappings.

A current U.S. State Department travel alert for Mexico mentions that dozens of U.S. citizens were kidnapped or murdered in Tijuana in 2007.

Asked whether Juárez was safe to visit, Gonzalez responded, "That's a very personal decision."

Gonzalez said potential visitors can make their own choice after viewing the Mexico travel alert, which is available at the Web site travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_3028.html

"You have thousands of people crossing the border every day and they do so for various purposes. Shopping, business," Gonzalez said.

Daniel Borunda may be reached at dborunda@elpasotimes.com; 546-6102.

Ramon Bracamontes may be reached at rbracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6142.

Read past stories on the violence in Juarez at www.elpasotimes.com/juarez.