National Guard Members Caught In The Act of Kidnapping Start Shooting State Authorities, Oaxaca

"HEARST" for Borderland Beat 

In San Pablo Etla, Oaxaca, four members of the National Guard were caught participating in the kidnapping and ransom of a young man who was traveling on a highway. When the Specialized Unit to Combat Kidnapping (UECS) closed in on them, the National Guard members opened fire and shoot outs ensued.

A young man from the Sierra Sur region was driving on the highway from Mihuatlán to Huajuapam de León when he was stopped and kidnapped. 

Allegedly involved in his kidnapping was at least two members of the National Guard who regularly used their official patrols in the area as time to commit highway kidnappings. The kidnapping victim and his vehicle were taken to a safehouse in the El Manantial Etla subdivision of the town of San Pablo Etla. 

Relatives of the victim were contacted via telephone by the kidnappers who demanded they pay them 200 thousand pesos and give them a new luxury van in exchange for them freeing the victim. The kidnappers explicitly stated that they would kill the victim and send his body to his relatives if they did not comply with their demands. The victim’s relatives contacted the State Attorney General's Office (FGJEO) and the Specialized Unit to Combat Kidnapping (UECS) requesting their help. The agencies agreed and took over the investigation into the victim’s kidnapping. 

Through the work of UECS, a potential safehouse where he might be held was located. In addition, a meet up was arranged with the kidnappers in which they said the ransom would be delivered. 

Left: Vehicle near the safehouse, right: alleged National Guard member arrested at safehouse.

In simultaneous operations, UECS agents approached the ransom delivery site while other UECS agents approached the potential safehouse. As the agents approached the suspected safehouse property, they discovered a National Guard vehicle was parked onsite. As they further approached the discovered two National Guard members were guarding the house. A confrontation ensued and two National Guard members were arrested while other soldiers managed to escape apprehension and request backup from other NG soldiers. 

Meanwhile, at the site of the ransom collection near Villa Elta, when the National Guard members spotted the UECS agents rather than a ransom delivery a shootout ensued. 

Video Credit: @AciertaOaxaca (Warning: immediate loud sirens)

There is a video circulating on social media which shows this shootout. In the footage, UECS personnel can be seen ducking behind their government vehicle, guns pointed, yelling to the National Guard men to drop their weapons.

The Villa Elta shootout resulted in  two National Guard members and one UECS agent suffering injuries. All three were transported to a hospital to receive medical treatment.

One of the National Guard members who was injured had sustained a gunshot injury to the torso which punctured his lung. He was taken in for surgery and died on the operating table during a procedure. 

The Attorney General later confirmed that the victim was safely recovered from the property by UESC agents following the two shootouts. He will be interview later by UECS agents for his version of events. So far 1 deceased and 3 arrested National Guard members have been implicated in the kidnapping.

Sources: Milenio, Corresponsales Article 1, Article 2, El Universal, La Onda Oaxaca, Diario Marca, Zona Roja, Valor por Tamaulipas, Rioaxaca