Police in Chetumal, in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, are still hunting a group of hooded, armed men who snatched a driver from his vehicle in broad view on Tuesday evening. Witnesses say the driver is a member of the National Guard.
The abduction happened in the Ley Federal de Aguas neighbourhood, at the crossing of Belice Avenue and Isla Cancun Street. According to preliminary reports, the armed men intercepted the man's vehicle, forced him out, and pushed him into another car before speeding off. Bystanders called police shortly after.
When officers arrived they cordoned off the scene, where an abandoned white Chevrolet pickup truck was left sitting in the middle of the street. Patrols have since been deployed and checkpoints set up at access routes out of the city, but so far no arrests have been made and no details on the victim's condition have been released.
Chetumal sits on the border with Belize and is well away from the resort strip most visitors to Quintana Roo know — Cancun, Playa del Carmen and Tulum are roughly five hours north by road. Incidents like this one are targeted rather than random, but they're a reminder that parts of the state outside the tourist zones see periodic security flare-ups, and that border cities deserve extra situational awareness if you're passing through en route to Belize or the southern Yucatan.
If you're travelling the region, the practical takeaway is simple: stick to the main toll roads, keep an eye on local news when driving near the border, and check current government travel advisories for Quintana Roo before you set off. Most holidays in the Riviera Maya are unaffected, but knowing which towns and stretches of road to be mindful of is worth a few minutes of planning.
Original coverage: Riviera Maya News
