Wednesday, October 8, 2025

Authorities shut down kidnapping gang operated by prison inmate

A joint operation by Mexico City and México state authorities resulted in the arrest of eight people involved in a crime gang allegedly responsible for several kidnappings, all led by a man behind bars in Mexico City.

One of the group’s latest victims, according to authorities, an unidentified woman kidnapped from Valle de Chalco, in México state, was found dead May 24 in the same municipality despite the fact that her family had paid over 1 million pesos (US $45,000) in ransom.

Officials say the gang’s ringleader is Polo “El Hardy” Páez Medina, 27, currently serving a prison term in a prison in Iztapalapa. Authorities arrested him after discovering a cell phone in his possession they say he used to coordinate the kidnappings with those outside the prison.

The other seven members allegedly took orders from Páez and were involved in contacting victims, carrying out the kidnappings, sending videos to the victims’ families, and collecting ransoms in multiple payments in various bank accounts.

Members of the gang, which called itself Los Corazones (The Hearts), were arrested in various locations in Mexico City and the state of México, including two locations that authorities say were highly secure buildings where victims were kept by the group while they sought ransom payments.

Sources: El Universal (sp)

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
wet railroad tracks

Critics warn infrastructure cuts could undermine Mexico’s economic growth potential

1
Between January and August of this year, investment in public works such as roads, bridges, schools and hospitals totaled 509.8 billion pesos (US $27.7 billion), a 33.7% reduction in real terms.
workers on scaffolding in front of a Mexican flag

World Bank ups growth forecast for Mexico and Latin America

1
In its new economic report on Latin America and the Caribbean, the bank revised Mexico's 2025 GDP forecast to 0.5%, but cautioned that growth is hindered by tariff uncertainty and insufficient public investment.
Six repatriated Mexicans

Mexicans detained since Oct. 1 by Israel while taking humanitarian aid to Gaza, are coming home

1
The group of six Mexicans, which included the journalist Ernesto Ledesma, was part of a flotilla of volunteers whose boats were boarded by Israeli soldiers after they entered restricted waters off the coast of Palestine.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity