Federal officials confirmed that the mayor of a Mexican border town was found alive on Sunday, several hours after he was abducted while traveling through the northern state of Zacatecas. Miguel Angel Almaraz, who serves as the mayor of Rio Bravo in Tamaulipas state, was traveling with friends and family on Saturday when armed men intercepted their vehicle in a region that straddles the states of Zacatecas and San Luis de Potosi.
According to the Security Department of San Luis Potosi, the kidnappers took Almaraz but allowed his companions to leave. His relatives were able to reach a town within San Luis Potosi, where they alerted authorities to the situation. Officials reported that Almaraz was subsequently taken to the city of Zacatecas, where he was released by his captors. An investigation into the incident is currently underway.
The area where the abduction occurred is known for the presence of several drug trafficking organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, both of which are known to target civilians and political figures. Authorities have not yet identified the specific perpetrators responsible for the mayor's kidnapping.
Rio Bravo, the municipality governed by Almaraz, has a population of approximately 110,000 residents and is situated just seven miles, or 11 kilometers, from the Texas border. Throughout his political career, Almaraz has represented various parties, including the left-wing Party of the Democratic Revolution, and is currently a member of the conservative National Action Party. In 2009, he was imprisoned on accusations of fuel theft and money laundering, but he was acquitted of those charges six years later.
