Tonight, 3 Belizean car dealers are sending the warning to car dealers and anyone driving through Mexico. They were kidnapped by the JNCG cartel on Friday morning in Veracruz - and held for 7 hours until their families or associates could wire a ransom of 500 dollars US each.
Last night, Zeke Lino told us they were held by 10 armed men in two pickup trucks. He said they were businesslike - but the threat of violence was very present for 7 terrifying hours.
He told us all Belizeans will now have to pay this cartel to pass through Veracruz. Here's how he explained in a phone interview.
Voice of: Zeke Lino, Car dealer
"We ask them, we don't want nobody else to go through what we go through. What we could do, to assist or if we have to pay to traverse through here. We don't have to go through what we gone through."
"What can you do for us? He said don't worry about that, we will arrange it, we will call you. When you reach out of Belize, We will send you all information."
"The guy gave us his numbe. So the man said, when we are coming through to call them to meet up somewhere and pay."
"It's a convoy, they collect and they will escort us, or whatever. We will be safe through there, but they need their money for us to pass through."
"They will kill you. You would hear car dealers are missing and you would'nt find our bodies, because they would bury us right there."
"They are CJNC and that's why I am telling people not to take this likely, because men will die."
"They just start this operation and we have to pass through Veracruz. People are saying to travel with the money and they reach there they will give them. These guys don't stop you and say give me 3,000pesos or 6,000 or 10,000 pesos. They will kidnap you and take you."
"I am worried about my guys who are travelling now. I am home, I am safe. I am spreading awareness to save lives."
Lino says that is his last trip to drive down a vehicle.
We should note that paying a "pedimento" to another cartel has been standard for years - but now - car dealers or drivers will have to call and pay this new one. Belize police have asked us not to show the cartel's number.
