The Mexican Army confirmed on Monday the release of 14 kidnapped people in a joint operation with the Immediate Reaction Force of Zacatecas and the National Guard, which also resulted in 14 detainees.
In a confrontation with armed civilians in the municipality of Pinos, the Security Forces have managed to free nine people deprived of their freedom, as well as five others later in the nearby municipality of General Panfilo Natera.
The state Attorney General, Francisco Murillo, explained that the victims are from different regions of the country and that there were no ransom demands: »What has been happening in some cases is that some people are forced to join organized crime to work with them».
In the joint operation, with at least five simultaneous raids in different parts of the state, 21 vehicles have also been seized, including armored vehicles, as well as a large quantity of weapons including grenades and grenade launchers. Authorities have also found one of the gunmen dead, presumably as a result of the clashes with security forces.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
