A group linked to the Gulf Cartel attempted to abduct three women who had just arrived in the Mexican border city of Reynosa for work. As US authorities intensify border control measures, the cartel has escalated its activities, using tactics of intimidation and lure to adapt to a changing smuggling environment. The Gulf Cartel is, notably, one of six Mexican groups identified by the US as foreign terrorist organizations.
On October 1, 36-year-old Lorena Cortez Villa and two other women entered Reynosa, Tamaulipas, looking for work. They were leaving the Holiday Inn near the airport when a group of gunmen in SUVs intercepted them.
The assailants stole the women’s belongings, including their cell phones and cash. They attempted to take all three women but ultimately only ended up with Cortez. The gunmen threatened the remaining two women, warning them not to alert the authorities. Family members have been hesitant to file a police report, fearing repercussions, according to local news outlet Hoy Tamaulipas.
The Gulf Cartel has shifted its focus towards coercion and manipulation in its criminal operations, adapting to challenges posed by stricter border policies enacted during the Trump administration that made human smuggling increasingly difficult. This shift has instilled fear in the city of Reynosa, although state and federal officials downplay the threat, emphasizing low crime rates in the area.
This operational change follows the decrease in asylum claims facilitated by the Trump administration, and the increasing law enforcement presence along the border has made traditional smuggling routes through the Rio Grande less viable, forcing the cartel to reroute through official entry points.
