Tragedy struck on a notorious stretch of Mexican highway near the southern border as two Arizona residents, both women aged 72 and 82, fell victim to an armed attack. According to the Sonora Attorney General's Office, Uvaldina Curiel Mendoza and her sister Enedina Curiel Mendoza were driving on the Sonoyta-Caborca highway when they were ambushed, which led to their untimely deaths. The details of the incident, as reported by Mexico News Daily, describe an overturned, bullet-riddled Nissan Pathfinder SUV where the sisters were found dead.
Armed highway assaults, specifically targeting pickup trucks and SUVs, have been increasingly common in this region, as stolen vehicles motivate the gunmen. Media reports suggested that the attackers in this instance might have similarly been after the women's vehicle. As relayed by a post to Facebook, the husband of one of the victims expressed the profound loss, saying, "Today is the most terrible day in the existence of my family because [gunmen] wanting to rob my wife and sister-in-law killed them on the Sonoyta-Caborca stretch [of highway]." This statement was obtained through the account of José Ortiz Reyes, a former professor at the University of Sonora, as mentioned by Fox News Digital.
Investigations into the armed highway attack are progressing, with no motive currently revealed by the FGJE. After the attack, security forces from multiple levels of government launched an extensive search for the responsible group utilizing air and ground support. A stolen Ford F-150 suspected of use in the attack was discovered along with an AK-47 and ammunition. No arrests have been made public at the time of reporting. However, the Federal Bureau of Investigation is assisting Mexican authorities, a collaboration reported by Mexico News Daily.
The region of Sonora, notorious for crimes including trafficking and violence, remains a problematic area for travelers and residents alike. The U.S. State Department has issued advisories for U.S. citizens to reconsider travel due to crime and potential kidnapping. "Sonora is a key location used by the international drug trade and human trafficking networks. Violent crime is widespread. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnapping," cautioned the Department in a statement that was highlighted in a report by Mexico News Daily. They advise a heightened level of awareness for all traveling in Sonora, as security incidents can happen anywhere in the state.
As tensions continue in a region once under the domain of Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, violence persists even with the notorious drug lord now serving a life sentence in Colorado. Three cartels are still warring in Sonora, contributing to its status as one of Mexico's most violent states, as per data published by the national statistics agency INEGI. The stark reality of this violence gives pause to those who may consider the area for travel or transit. The recent deaths of the Arizona residents only underscore the acute dangers presented by the perilous corridor of the Sonoyta-Caborca highway.
