As many as 16 people have been taken, but the exact number has not been confirmed. Five cars were abandoned at the restauant but it’s not clear yet if the vehicles belonged to the victims.
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The armed men stormed an upmarket restaurant in the popular Mexican resort of Puerto Vallarta – once frequented by Hollywood starlet Elizabeth Taylor.
Jalisco, which lies south along the Pacific coast from Sinaloa, is home to the Jalisco New Generation cartel, which has become one of the country’s most powerful drug gangs in recent years.
While the details surrounding the kidnapping are still under investigation, Guzman family attorney Pablo Badillo says “it’s very likely” that the drug cartel leader’s eldest son, Ivan Archivaldo, was abducted.
Jalisco State Gov. Aristoteles Sandoval said that he was increasing security to protect residents and tourists..
Up to 12 people were abducted at a restaurant near resorts in the Mexican city of Puerto Vallarta, according to officials.
“Ivan Archivaldo was, I believe, a bit insane”, said Raul Benitez, a security specialist who teaches political science at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
Experts believe Ivan assumed control of parts of his father’s business after the elder Guzman was re-arrested in January, following his brazen prison break from a top-security Mexican facility past year. “The situation at this moment is under control”, Jalisco Governor Aristóteles Sandoval added.
Hope also called it odd that a group of alleged cartel members would be taken without a shot being fired.
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The tourism board confirms that no tourists were involved in the incident. Investigators said they would be reviewing security footage along the busy boulevard where the abductions occurred. As an immediate safety measure, security has been reinforced in Puerto Vallarta to ensure that residents as well as tourists can continue with their normal activities.
