Former Head of Anti-Kidnapping Unit Arrested for Role in 2014 Student Disappearance, Motive Remains Unclear

On Monday, Mexico announced the arrest of Gualberto Ramírez, who is the former head of the anti-kidnapping unit, in connection with the disappearance of 43 students in 2014.

Relatives and classmates of the missing 43 Ayotzinapa college students march in Mexico City, on Sept. 26, 2022, on the anniversary of their disappearance in Iguala, Guerrero state. (Photo: US News)

Former Head of Anti-Kidnapping Unit Arrested

The students from the Ayotzinapa teachers college in southern Mexico vanished under mysterious circumstances, and this arrest marks a crucial step in the ongoing investigation.

Gualberto Ramírez held a prominent position as the head of the anti-kidnapping unit for the attorney general’s office when the tragic incident took place, the Associated Press reported.

According to Assistant Interior Secretary Alejandro Encinas, the former head of the anti-kidnapping unit is now facing charges of disappearance, torture, and conspiracy due to his alleged involvement in the botched investigation surrounding the abductions.

Mexican law defines these abductions as “disappearances” since only the remains of three victims have been positively identified thus far.

The incident occurred on September 26, 2014, when security forces apprehended the students from buses in the city of Iguala. The students were subsequently handed over to a local drug gang, who reportedly executed and burned them.

The motives behind this heinous act are still unclear, but mounting evidence suggests a potential collusion between the police, military, and drug traffickers.

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Former Head of Anti-Kidnapping Unit Faces Charges

In addition to Ramírez’s arrest, Assistant Interior Secretary Encinas took to Twitter to reveal that eight soldiers, who were detained last week, have been charged by civilian prosecutors with disappearance in connection to the same case.

These soldiers are presently being held in a military prison, and it remains to be seen if they will continue to be detained there.

This recent development sheds light on the military’s potential involvement in the students’ disappearances, unveiling a troubling aspect of the case.

The initial investigations into the alleged perpetrators of this crime were stained by grave irregularities, including torture, mishandling of evidence, coercion, and forced confessions.

Consequently, numerous charges against the suspects were ultimately dismissed due to these procedural errors.

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