Being a car dealer HAULING vehicles thorough Mexico has always had inherent danger - but in 2023 it's probably more dangerous than ever before. That's because of increasing lawlessness and the fact that much of the highways run through the turf of different cartels. We've heard increasing stories of holdups and robberies, but today we learned of an entire convoy that was held up with assault rifles by Mexican bandits and robbed of as many as 5 vehicles, and all kinds of cargo, while at least 7 drivers were robbed of their money, their wallets and their passports. This group included at least one American who was traveling with the convoy.
It happened on Saturday afternoon in the state of Veracruz around the area of Tuxpam. The leader of the group, Zeke Lino sent us voice messages outlining thew terrifying encounter:
Voice of: Zeke Lino, Car Leader
"I was the leader of the trip. They stopped the second vehicle, cut it cross and I couldn't move. They jumped out of their vehicle with assault rifles, ordered all the drivers to exit their vehicles and they took 3 sets of vehicles from the drivers. They robbed everybody, went with the vehicles which included their passports, especially the Belizean Americans - they went with their passports and their credit cards and all their money. They only have their clothes on their back right now."
"It was frightening. I felt for the older gentleman and his wife. I mean, they actually shoot after the guy on the ground. The gentleman has sentimental values in the truck coming home from vacation and he didn't want to leave his truck. The guys (robbers) told him look, I'm not playing, hit him in his ribs with the assault rifle and kick him and told him to get on the ground and fired at shot at him."
"I think what they are after are these Ford pickups, because I heard stories that they took a couple of those vehicles from some people in different parts of Mexico. I mean, lucky to be alive. The blue F-150 was a 2020. It costs a lot of money. So they haven't recovered that yet. I wish that you warned other people traveling, because a lot of people are coming."
They made a police report and have recovered some of the vehicles and trailers, but none of the pickups - which as he noted are usually targeted.
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