Vice President of Tamaulipas Chamber of Commerce Reported Missing

Authorities in Tamaulipas, Mexico, have confirmed that Marco António Marino Real, the vice president of the state’s chamber of commerce, has been reported missing in Reynosa. This incident follows the tragic death of the council’s former president, who was killed by the Gulf Cartel in Matamoros over a year ago after raising concerns about extortion by criminal gangs, which seemed to involve local officials.

Late last week, the Tamaulipas Attorney General’s Office issued a brief statement regarding Marino Real’s disappearance, alongside a search notice. The specifics of the situation remain murky. Nevertheless, FECANACO has been vocal, condemning such disappearances and urging both federal and state authorities to take action. The organization has been particularly outspoken about the ongoing security crisis in Tamaulipas, where various syndicates, notably the Gulf Cartel and Cartel del Noreste/Los Zetas, are reportedly extorting many businesses.

Last known reports indicate that Marino Real, who lives in Tampico, had been in Reynosa attending meetings with local business leaders to discuss the rising issue of extortion in the area. Recently, Reynosa has become a focal point for violent crime, extortion, and kidnapping, particularly as the Trump administration attempts to counteract human smuggling operations that exploit asylum loopholes. With increased military presence, the Gulf Cartel has faced difficulties in moving drugs via the Rio Grande, leaning instead on smuggling through border checkpoints.

This reported abduction of Marino Real comes just over a year after the former president of FECANACO, Julio Almanza, was tragically shot outside his office in Matamoros. Almanza was notable for exposing the Gulf Cartel’s activities, which involved the ongoing extortion of local businesses with support from city officials.