The FBI announced over the weekend that Monica de Leon Barba, a California woman who was kidnapped while walking her dog in Mexico, has been released by her captors after eight months of captivity. The news of her safe return brought relief and joy to her family, who eagerly awaited her arrival in the United States. De Leon Barba’s abduction took place in Tepatitlán, Jalisco, a state known for its ongoing struggles with cartel violence.
Jalisco has been a hotbed of criminal activity, with the notorious Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) operating from its headquarters. The CJNG is considered one of the most dangerous transnational organizations globally and has been responsible for significant violence and loss of life in Mexico. They are notorious for trafficking large quantities of cocaine, methamphetamine, and fentanyl-laced heroin into the United States.
Kidnappings have become alarmingly frequent in the region, highlighting the pervasive insecurity. In recent weeks, several journalists have been abducted in Jalisco’s neighboring state of Nayarit, further highlighting the dangers faced by individuals living and working in the area. The grim discovery of Luis Martín Sánchez Iñiguez, a journalist for La Jornada, brutally mutilated with cartel messages, underscores the ruthlessness of these criminal groups.
The FBI’s investigation into Monica de Leon Barba’s kidnapping began in April when they offered a $40,000 reward for any information leading to her recovery. They released surveillance footage of the incident, showing de Leon Barba walking her dog before being forcefully taken into a gray Volkswagen Jetta by multiple individuals. Although the FBI has identified five suspects from the video footage, no arrests have been made as the search for her captors continues.
Monica de Leon Barba’s release is a glimmer of hope in the face of Mexico’s alarming statistics of missing persons. According to the Advocacy for Human Rights in the Americas (WOLA), over 100,000 individuals have been reported as “disappeared and missing” in Mexico. The country also faces the grim reality of child kidnappings for sexual exploitation, with an estimated 21,000 children falling victim to this heinous crime each year.
While de Leon Barba’s safe return brings solace to her loved ones, the FBI emphasizes that their investigation is ongoing.