U.S. Consulate warns against travel to Tamaulipas and Reynosa due to bus kidnappings

TAMAULIPAS, Mexico – The U.S. Consulate in Matamoros is receiving reports of organized kidnappings from intercity buses and is advising people not to travel to Tamaulipas or Reynosa.

Intercity buses, operated by Omnibus, are being targeted. The Department of State’s Travel Advisory for the areas is currently Level 4 – Do Not Travel, due to crime and kidnapping.

Officials say these kidnappings have occurred mostly in the evenings on Omnibus buses departing south from the main Reynosa bus terminal.

Passengers with connections to the U.S. have been targeted, including U.S. citizens and residents. Victims have reported their belongings and documents stolen, bank accounts emptied, and their families are forced to pay ransoms of thousands of dollars for each victim.

The U.S. Consulate advises travelers to be aware of their surroundings, notify friends and family of plans, and stay in contact. If you or a family member are a victim of kidnapping in Reynosa or Tamaulipas, call the FBI McAllen Field Office at 1 (956)-984-6300.