Mexican authorities have rescued football star Alan Pulido following his kidnapping in his crime-plagued home state of Tamaulipas, with the player declaring early Monday he was “very well” despite the ordeal. He said Velazquez is married to a cousin of Pulido’s and may belong to a drug and kidnap gang.
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Pulido, who left the Mexican club in 2014 for Europe, has the quality to be on the Mexico squad, according to its national team coach.
The 25-year-old Olympiacos forward was seen Sunday with a bandaged wrist that Quintanilla said was suffered while Pulido was trying to escape through a broken window.
Pulido, who plays for the Greek champions Olympiakos, was snatched from his auto by at least four armed and masked men as he returned from a party on Saturday, in the northern state of Tamaulipas.
Minutes later someone from the anti-kidnapping unit called to say that his brother had escaped.
“Because our forces were out searching for him they were able to immediately respond and secure his release”, Quintanilla said.
The kidnappers had called Pulido’s family twice to demand a ransom. He said police themselves were starting to shoot and described his shorts and tank top so they wouldn’t confuse him with the now-unconscious captor.
“Blows were exchanged, and he made the phone call”, he said.
Following his rescue, Pulido was taken for medical and psychological review and then provided a statement to investigators.
His rescue is a major success for the authorities in one of Mexico’s most unsafe states, with the population regularly terrorized by kidnappings and gunfights in the streets of large cities.
“Thank you very much to everyone for their prayers, they helped us a lot during this bad experience that I would not wish on anyone. He is with us”, Mr Torre Cantu said.
Pulido declined to answer other questions and was driven away in a sport utility vehicle.
After Pulido’s rescue, attorney general Ismael Quintanilla detailed the operation.
The next day, according to authorities, Pulido saw an opportunity when he was left alone with one of the kidnappers.
Kidnapping is a long-standing problem throughout Mexico, and is particularly acute in Tamaulipas.
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“It was a kidnapping”, said Galindo, who added that there was a negotiation, presumably a ransom demand from kidnappers, though he did not elaborate.
