VIDEO: Cartel Gunmen Kidnap Six from Cancun Restaurant

Gunmen stormed a restaurant in Cancun and kidnapped six in front of terrified onlookers. Hours later, state cops were able to rescue the six victims, but only after a fierce shootout.

The kidnapping took place Thursday afternoon when gunmen pulled up to the Buzos restaurant in Cancun and forced six men out of the place. Surveillance video from the restaurant captured the incident.

ASI FUE EL SECUESTRO

Momento en que el comando armado ingresa al restaurant “Buzos” en la zona turística de Cancun para levantar a 6 personas lo que derivó de un tiroteo para su rescate durante la noche (cámara de seguridad) @IldefonsoOrtiz pic.twitter.com/nmp285etqr

— Unidad De Inteligencia Ciudadana (@UnidadDeInteli1) March 27, 2020

The identities of the victims have not been revealed, however, by Thursday night, state police chief Alberto Capella took to Twitter to warn the public to avoid the area around Supermanzana 69, claiming there was a fierce shootout.

Tenemos un fuerte enfrentamiento con presuntos delincuentes en la SM 69 en Benito Juárez. Tome sus precauciones y evite el área. POR FAVOR!!!

— Alberto Capella (@kpya) March 27, 2020

After the shootout, authorities were able to rescue the six victims. Police officers killed one of the gunmen, injured a second, and arrested three more. One police commander was injured by a bullet fragment. Authorities revealed the six victims were not locals.

The kidnapping comes at a time when Cancun continues to be a hotspot for violence as criminal organizations fight for control of local drug distribution and sex trafficking. This year, Cancun alone has seen 100 executions. In 2019 the tourist hotspot recorded 382 murders.

Ildefonso Ortiz is an award-winning journalist with Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Brandon Darby and senior Breitbart management. You can follow him on Twitter and on Facebook. He can be contacted at Iortiz@breitbart.com. 

Brandon Darby is the managing director and editor-in-chief of Breitbart Texas. He co-founded Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project with Ildefonso Ortiz and senior Breitbart management. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. He can be contacted at bdarby@breitbart.com.     

Jose Luis Lara from Breitbart Texas’ Cartel Chronicles project contributed to this report