A top US anti-kidnapping expert was kidnapped in north-east Mexico last week in an audacious move amid a wave of drug-related violence and kidnappings.
Security adviser Felix Batista, 55, was abducted on Wednesday in Saltillo in Coahuila state after taking part in two conferences on business security, Reforma daily said yesterday, quoting local government officials.
The abduction "was not violent", said Fausto Destenave Kuri, a state security official, who confirmed the abduction to Vanguardia website.
Mr Batista is a Latin America consultant for US-based ASI Global Response, which specialises in kidnap and ransom response services, according to his online profile, which was removed from the company's website, Reforma said.
Increasing kidnappings and two kidnap-murders of children from high-profile families in the past year have shocked the country.
More than 200,000 people marched across Mexico in late August to protest against kidnappings and violence.
Official figures show 954 kidnappings from January 1 to November 30 2008, but human rights groups say there are two to three more cases to each one reported.
Meanwhile, the country's top prosecutor said last week that more than 5300 people have died in suspected drug-related attacks this year.
AFP
