VP/HR — Italian citizens missing in Mexico
28.2.2018
Question for written answer E-001225-18
to the Commission (Vice-President/High Representative)
Rule 130
Andrea Cozzolino (S&D) , Pina Picierno (S&D) , Renata Briano (S&D) , Enrico Gasbarra (S&D) , Luigi Morgano (S&D) , Daniele Viotti (S&D) , Patrizia Toia (S&D) , Brando Benifei (S&D) , Cécile Kashetu Kyenge (S&D) , Elena Gentile (S&D) , Isabella De Monte (S&D) , Alessia Maria Mosca (S&D) , Damiano Zoffoli (S&D) , Silvia Costa (S&D) , Paolo De Castro (S&D)
Since 31 January 2018, three Italian citizens from Naples have gone missing in the Mexican region of Jalisco.
On 24 February, four policemen were charged with having seized the Italian citizens, or staged a fake arrest, in order to hand them over (for a fee) to one of the criminal organisations operating in the region (probably the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generatión, headed by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes).
The four police officers have apparently confessed and are in ‘preventive’ custody, though without having provided any information in relation to the investigations, neither on who was behind the crime, nor any information that might help locate the three Italians.
According to the local media, 33 policemen have been charged. This would increase suspicions of a structural link between the police and cartels, even though the local authorities continue to deny any involvement.
In the light of the above, can the Commission:
- 1.Ask the VP/HR to go to Mexico immediately to deal with this case and to provide prompt assistance to the families, keeping them constantly and accurately informed of developments;
- 2.Work in close cooperation with the Mexican and Italian authorities to supervise the investigations, avoiding any further interference or false leads due to criminal organisations or authorities colluding with them, with the aim of bringing the criminals to justice and the three Italian citizens back home?