The Brownsville Police Department in Texas, across the border with Matamoros, Mexico – where four Americans were found after being kidnapped – said the tragic incident “should not define Mexico as a whole”.
Public Information Officer Martin Sandoval said Matamoros is like US cities in that it has “bad positions and there are good locations”.
Sandoval said kidnappings don’t happen often despite public belief. The last major case the city encountered was in the late 1980s, he said.
The police department recommends that Americans stay in the US.
But if people decide to travel through Mexico, Sandoval encourages them to follow federal guidelines, which include filling up gas tanks, staying as close to the port of entry as possible, traveling with a group of people, and having GPS, he says. speak.
“Hundreds of people cross the bridge every day,” said Sandoval, referring to the Matamoros crossing. And some people are more worried after this abduction, but it is likely that some will continue to cross, he added.
