• Four American citizens were attacked and abducted by gunmen in northeastern Mexico.
• Likely mistaken for drug traffickers from Haiti.
• The FBI has declared a $50,000 reward for their safe return and the capture of those responsible.

Two South Carolina families have identified the four American citizens who were attacked and abducted by gunmen in northeastern Mexico on Friday.

According to the mother of Latavia “Tay” Washington McGee and the sister of Zindell Brown, Latavia “Tay” Washington McGee travelled to Mexico for medical treatment with the help of Shaeed Woodard, Zindell Brown, and a man they named Eric.

The official stated that it is thought that the Americans were mistakenly targeted and were not the intended victims.

According to the official, authorities think it’s likely that a Mexican drug gang mistaken them for drug traffickers from Haiti.

He or she also added that they have not found any evidence of the Americans having any troubling criminal histories.

The official said, based on receipts discovered in the car, that the Americans had driven to the border city of Matamoros for medical operations.

The episode draws attention to the persistent violence in various Mexican cities, which have been plagued by organised crime at least since the start of the Mexican Drug War in 2006, as well as the expanding “medical tourism” industry.

The missing Americans drove into Matamoros on Friday in a white minivan with North Carolina plates, the FBI in San Antonio said.

There, they were fired upon by unidentified gunmen and were “placed in a vehicle and taken from the scene by armed men,” the FBI said.

The Americans are travelling for medical reasons, according to prior statements by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

“The information we have is that they crossed the border to buy medicines in Mexico, there was a confrontation between groups and they were detained,” the president said. “The whole government is working on it.”

According to US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar, the incident resulted in the death of an innocent Mexican citizen.

“We have no higher priority than the safety of our citizens,” Salazar said. “This is the most fundamental role of the US government. Officials from various US law enforcement agencies are working with Mexican authorities at all levels of government to achieve the safe return of our compatriots.”

The public can assist the FBI in locating them and determining who is accountable.

The organisation declared a $50,000 reward for their safe return and the capture of those responsible.

According to the FBI, the kidnapping is being investigated in conjunction with other federal partners as well as Mexican law enforcement organisations.

Local and federal resources have been activated, according to Tamaulipas officials in Mexico, to find the missing people.

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