Two Mexican National Guardsmen were kidnapped by a heavily armed cartel convoy in broad daylight in the state of Hidalgo after attempting to stop a truck transporting stolen fuel. The violent ambush resulted in the death of one serviceman and left another injured and hospitalized.
The soldiers, identified as Erik Antuan Portilla Morán and Gustavo Ramírez Roque, had intercepted a tractor-trailer loaded with stolen fuel in the municipality of Huichapan when they were suddenly overwhelmed by more than two dozen cartel gunmen traveling in multiple SUVs.
The gunmen kidnapped both soldiers, leaving behind their patrol vehicles. Mexican authorities quickly launched a manhunt. One of the kidnapped guardsmen was located an hour later, reportedly in a state of shock and needing medical care. The body of the second officer, Ramirez Roque, was recovered several hours later.
The brazen kidnapping and murder underscore the rising danger faced by Mexican law enforcement and military personnel in cartel-dominated regions. Hidalgo, situated in central Mexico, has seen a sharp increase in organized crime activity — particularly fuel theft.
Criminal groups have increasingly focused on tapping pipelines owned by the state-run oil company PEMEX. The stolen fuel is then distributed and sold on the black market, fueling massive underground profits. Previous investigations have exposed collusion between cartel operatives and influential political figures, as well as corrupt military officials.
Despite deploying resources and personnel to track down the perpetrators, Mexican authorities have yet to capture any suspects connected to the attack. The failure to apprehend those responsible has only further raised concerns about the government’s ability to combat organized crime and protect its own forces.
As cartel power continues to grow unchecked in some regions, incidents like this one raise serious questions about the security landscape in Mexico and the risks faced by anyone who dares to stand in the way.
