In the Mexican border state of Tamaulipas, government officials are accused of downplaying the severity of ongoing cartel violence, using manipulated crime data and misleading statements to create an illusion of peace. Behind this facade, however, fierce turf wars between rival drug cartels are wreaking havoc across the state.
Cities like Reynosa, Rio Bravo, San Fernando, and Abasolo have been particularly hard-hit by the violence, with convoys of heavily armed gunmen frequently patrolling the streets. Despite the clear and present danger, established news outlets have shied away from reporting on the situation, constrained by the risks of covering cartel activities and pressure from government authorities.
As a result, many residents have turned to social media to stay informed about the kidnappings, extortions, carjackings, and shootouts that are increasingly common in their communities. In contrast, the Tamaulipas government continues to post messages on social media touting days without reported murders or high-impact crimes, claims that often do not align with the reports circulating among the public.
The government’s downplaying of the violence has even extended to dismissing travel warnings from the U.S. Consulate in Matamoros. These warnings, which advised U.S. citizens of the risk of ransom kidnappings, were dismissed by Tamaulipas officials as unreliable, arguing they were based on hearsay rather than official data.
This week, the situation escalated further when cartel gunmen torched two trailers carrying clothing in San Fernando after the owners refused to pay a protection fee. In other areas, cartels have begun taxing private vehicle sales, with deadly consequences for those who resist. The Tamaulipas government has attempted to cover up these incidents, misleadingly describing them as highway accidents.
