A Mexican drug cartel kidnapped a Texas man after the latter bragged about stealing $50,000 from them.

A criminal complaint filed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) noted that Erik Tadeo Ramirez of Laredo, Texas, was kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel called Cartel del Noreste. 

According to the Washington Times, the cartel is based in Mexico's northeastern state of Tamaulipas.

Ramirez was last seen on March 24, trying to escape from the moving pickup truck that his abductors used. It was crossing the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo when he was seen trying to get out.

Court documents revealed that Ramirez seemed to have blood on his face and tried to open the front passenger door, looking distressed. It all happened while the truck, a blue Dodge Ram, was moving - on the way to Mexico, where he is still missing.

Officers attending the bridge witnessed the incident and noted that the Texas man was pulled back inside by force.

The pickup truck reportedly flew past the bridge attendant. A blood-stained shirt and a pair of pants were left on the side of the road.

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Texas Man Kidnapped by Mexican Drug Cartel

Erik Tadeo Ramirez's girlfriend and sister called the police hours later to report the kidnapping.

Earlier that same night, the FBI said the Texas man was boasting about taking money from the cartel in a phone call.

Witnesses noted that Ramirez received a phone call from an unknown woman to whom he bragged about having stolen $50,000 from the Cartel del Noreste. He went on to say that he was in Laredo and that "he was not in danger or afraid" as he was in the United States.

Vice News reported that U.S. authorities arrested on March 27 an alleged member of the said Mexican drug cartel, identified as Jonathan Cavriales.

Cavriales attempted to return to the U.S., driving the same vehicle the criminal group used to kidnap Ramirez.

The Cartel del Noreste member told officers he was "aware that the victim had stolen" around $50,000 from the Mexican drug cartel.

According to court documents, the cartel member was denied bond release and charged with kidnapping.

Other suspects involved in the kidnapping of Ramirez are still at large.

On March 5, four U.S. citizens were kidnapped, two of whom were killed shortly after crossing the Texas border into Mexico.

Cartel del Noreste of Mexico

Cartel del Noreste, also known as the Northeast Cartel, is an offshoot of the Zetas. The Cartel del Noreste is the dominant group in Nuevo Laredo.

It operates unimpeded by rival groups or local authorities, who are at times complicit in their criminal activity, the InsightCrime reported.

The cartel has also done kidnappings in broad daylight. The group is also believed to have influence at migrant shelters.

The group also pays lookouts to monitor all movement on both sides of the Rio Grande River while other members survey parks and plazas where migrants are known to gather.

The Northeast Cartel has operated for lucrative kidnapping operations, abducting migrants en route or returning to the border city.

READ MORE: El Chapo's Sinaloa Cartel Continues to Thrive Despite the DrugLLord's Absence: Report 

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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