Kidnapped mayor found dead in Mexico’s drug-plagued north
August 18th, 2010 - 10:49 pm ICT by BNO NewsMEXICO CITY (BNO NEWS) — Mexican police on Wednesday found the body of a mayor two days after he was kidnapped by drug hitmen near the northern city of Monterrey, local media said.
The El Norte newspaper said Edelmiro Cavazos, mayor of the town Santiago, was found handcuffed and blindfolded around 8:30 a.m. local time.
Cavazos was taken from his home by hitmen on Sunday night after he returned from attending a public event on Santiago’s main square.
“I deeply regret the cowardly assassination of Edelmiro Cavazos, mayor of Santiago. My deepest condolences to his family,” said President Felipe Calderon on his Twitter account.
“Edelmiro’s death outrages us and compels us to intensify the fight against these cowardly criminals who threaten citizens,” he added.
The killing follows a increase in violence over the weekend in Monterrey, where drug cartel members blocked off more than 29 major roads on Saturday, dragging drivers out of their vehicles and using their cars to block off streets.
The blockade occurred after a shootout with the Mexican army and members of the drug cartel that resulted in the death of four people. Police say that the cartels block off the streets as a show of force.
Monterrey, the richest in Mexico, has seen increased crime since Los Zetas cartel extended their drug operations there.
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Tags: blockade, bno, cars, cartels, drug cartel, drug operations, el norte, hitmen, local media, local time, los zetas, main square, mexican army, mexican police, mexico city, monterrey, north mexico, santiago, violence, zetas cartel