A U.S. Marine reservist has been kidnapped in Mexico reported CNN. Armando Torres, III was kidnapped with his father and uncle by men who were armed in La Barranca, Tamaulipas, Mexico on May 14.
Torres had driven to visit his father's ranch in La Barranca across the International Port of Entry Bridge at Progresso, Texas. After he reached the ranch, armed gunmen came in and kidnapped him as well as his father Armando Torres II and his uncle, Salvador Torres.
None of the men have been seen or heard from since their kidnapping. Federal law inforcement officials are asking the public for any information about the kidnapping.
"Torres, who served in a combat zone during Operation Iraqi Freedom, is currently in the individual ready reserve," reported ABC News.
ABC News reported that Mexico has one of the highest crime rates in the world with nearly 50,000 peopole being murdered in 2011.
While the State Department says that millions of Americans do visit Mexico every year without incident, it also warns on the country's travel advisory page that "crime and violence, much of it fueled by transnational criminal activity, affect many parts of the country, including both urban and rural areas" and urges Americans to "remain alert and be aware of their surroundings at all times, particularly when visiting the border region.," reported ABC News.
The State Department is aware of reports that Torres, who is a U.S. citizen has been kidnapped.
"The U.S. Consulate General in Matamoros is working with Mexican authorities to obtain more information. Due to privacy considerations, we cannot provide further information," an agency official said to CNN.
Mexican authorities have also launched an investigation as well as the FBI with an international investigation. The FBI is requesting that anyone who might have information to contact the FBI-Brownsville Resident Agency Office.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
