Abduction of Footballer Alan Pulido reported in his Mexican hometown by authorities
Alan Pulido, a striker for Greece's Olympiakos football team, has gone missing in his home state of Tamaulipas, Mexico, after a kidnapping incident that occurred around dawn on May 29.
Pulido, a prominent figure in Mexican football, has played in six matches this season, scoring four goals. He recently played in the Greek Cup final on May 17, where his team lost to AEK, 2-1.
The kidnapping took place in Ciudad Victoria, a city in Tamaulipas, a state known for its association with drug cartels like the Gulf and Zetas. Tamaulipas is one of Mexico's most dangerous states, with a high incidence of drug trafficking and kidnappings.
State prosecutor Ismael Quintanilla confirmed Pulido's disappearance and stated that the family has not received any communication from the kidnappers. Six armed men are reported to have been involved in the kidnapping.
Local media reported that Pulido had accompanied his girlfriend to a party in Ciudad Victoria, and that their car was intercepted by a convoy of vans. Certain roads in Tamaulipas are so dangerous that the federal police sometimes escort travelers in protective convoys.
The young woman who was with Pulido at the time of the kidnapping was released almost immediately, but she had no idea where Pulido had been taken. The kidnappers have since contacted the relatives of Alan Pulido to negotiate his release.
Olympiakos, Pulido's current club, has expressed its support for the missing player, posting a message on Twitter. Tigres, Pulido's former Mexican club, also voiced its support on the social media platform.
Mexican authorities, including the military and police forces, are searching for Pulido in Tamaulipas, a state that shares a border with the United States. Olympiakos officials are in constant contact with Pulido's family and with Mexican Ambassador Tarcisio Navarrete Montes de Oca, who stated that Mexican authorities are doing "everything possible" to locate Pulido.
It's important to note that Tamaulipas is a state where the problem of disappearances is alarmingly high. According to the non-governmental organization Families and Friends of the Disappeared in Tamaulipas, 11,000 people are unaccounted for in the state. About 5,000 people are listed as "disappeared" in Tamaulipas.
Pulido was a member of the Mexican squad at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. His disappearance has sent shockwaves through the football community, and fans worldwide are hoping for his safe return.
This is a developing story and more information will be shared as it becomes available. Our thoughts are with Alan Pulido and his family during this difficult time.
