Cancun police rescue four Cuban hostages held for ransom

Authorities in Cancun, Mexico, rescued four Cuban nationals—two men and two women—who were being held hostage and tortured for ransom. The victims were discovered in a residence in the Valle Verde neighborhood after a neighbor alerted emergency services following cries for help.

According to investigators, the captors recorded videos of the beatings and sent them via WhatsApp to the victims' families in Cuba, demanding $5,000 per person for their release. One victim reported being lured to Quintana Roo through a fraudulent job advertisement on social media while in Cuba.

Five individuals, identified as Alejandro “N”, Llanet “N”, Zaida “N”, Francheska “N”, and José Luis “N”, were apprehended during a joint operation involving the Navy and the National Defense Secretariat. The suspects have been handed over to the Special Prosecutor's Office for Combating Kidnapping and Extortion. If convicted, the suspects could face up to 25 years in prison and significant fines.