LIMONES, MEXICO – A New Yorker residing in Mexico was abducted and held for a ransom of $200,000, narrowly escaping with his life. The kidnappers blindfolded and restrained Joseph Constantine Buonincontri, leaving him in the secluded jungle of Limones, located approximately 200 miles southwest of Cancun.
Local residents alerted the authorities about armed men operating a taxi from Tulum, a well-known resort area, into the remote wilderness. This information triggered a rescue mission by the Mexican military and the Mexican National Guard.
The 35-year-old was found alive, albeit restrained, in a straw hut, as per the Quintana Roo Attorney General’s Office. The authorities also found a backpack containing marijuana, a tactical vest, and loaded AR-15 magazines at the scene.
The identities of the kidnappers remain unknown, and they have not been apprehended since Buonincontri’s rescue on February 4. According to local news outlets and the prosecutor’s office, he was unharmed.
A video of the rescue posted on borderlandbeat.com captured the moment when authorities discovered Buonincontri. In the footage, a soldier inquires about his well-being and whether he needs food or water. Buonincontri’s response was a request for a cigarette and the removal of his blindfold.
During their conversation, Buonincontri informed the soldiers that he was visiting a family member in Limones from New York. When asked about the details of his abduction, he was unable to recall the specifics.
The local prosecutor’s office, Fiscalía General del Estado de Quintana Roo, issued a statement thanking the Mexican Army, National Guard, and local police for their assistance in the rescue operation.