Two of the four Americans kidnapped by armed men in a border town between the United States and Mexico on Friday (3) were found dead, Mexican authorities reported on Tuesday (7).
The four Americans were located in what appears to be a medical clinic in Matamoros, an American official familiar with the ongoing investigation told CNN. One of the two survivors is in serious condition.
The group was kidnapped at gunpoint in Matamoros, in what appears to have been a case of mistaken identity.
The four Americans were friends traveling from South Carolina to Mexico so that one of them – a mother of six – could undergo a medical procedure in a Mexican city near the border, a family member told CNN. Once at the border, they were targeted by unidentified gunmen, “put into a vehicle and taken away by armed men,” according to the FBI.
Investigators believe the Americans were the targets of a Mexican cartel that likely mistook them for Haitian drug traffickers, a U.S. official told CNN. The American citizens have no identified criminal backgrounds.
The Dangers of Medical Tourism
The kidnapping of the group highlights the ongoing violence that plagues some Mexican cities amid the endless drug trafficking war in Mexico, as well as the dangers of the growing business of “medical tourism” in the region.
This trip was the second time Washington McGee, a mother of six, traveled to Mexico for a medical procedure, her mother reported. She had previously traveled to the country for surgery about two or three years ago.
A close friend of Washington McGee, who wished to remain anonymous, told CNN that the trip was for cosmetic surgery. The group booked a hotel in Brownsville and planned to go to Matamoros for the surgery, according to the friend.
Mexico is becoming a particularly popular destination for “medical tourism,” attracting travelers seeking cheaper alternatives or medical treatments that are not approved or unavailable in the U.S. But the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that the growing trend can pose dangerous risks, depending on the destination and facility, including infections and potential post-procedure complications.
Mexico is the second most popular destination for medical tourism globally. About 1.4 to 3 million patients travel to the country annually to take advantage of cheaper treatment, according to Patients Beyond Borders, an international health consulting company.
However, Matamoros is not considered a primary medical travel destination because there are no internationally accredited medical centers/clinics there or nearby.
Mexico City, Cancun, and Tijuana are more frequented destinations. On average, Americans can save 40% to 60% on the most common procedures performed on foreigners in Mexico, according to a 2020 analysis of data from the health ministry conducted with patients beyond borders.
Level 4 Alert
The U.S. State Department issued a “Level 4” advisory, meaning “Do Not Travel” for American citizens considering going to Tamaulipas, citing crime and kidnappings as reasons for citizens not to venture into the city.
The Mexican cities that the State Department recommends American citizens avoid are:
• Colima State due to crime and kidnapping.
• Guerrero State due to crime.
• Michoacan State due to crime and kidnapping.
• Sinaloa State due to crime and kidnapping.
• Tamaulipas State due to crime and kidnappings.
• Zacatecas State due to crime and kidnapping.
Source: CNN