Mexico’s army saved two off-duty female army officers who were abducted on Wednesday and were held at gunpoint for several hours by suspected gunmen of a drug cartel, according to local authorities. 

The women were kidnapped around midnight during their stay in Puerto Vallarta, a resort town in Jalisco, Mexico, according to a statement by the country’s army, as reported by the Independent. 

Gen Vicente Pérez López of the army’s headquarters in Puerto Vallarta said that the duo was staying in the resort on rent and “were enjoying the beach … on vacation,” prior to their abduction. 

Calling the crime a “cowardly act”, Gen López said in a statement that “they were kidnapped for the simple reason that they belonged to the army.” The incident occurred when the women had dozed off to sleep.

Gen Pérez López clarified that the female soldiers had “nothing to do with any operational issues,” as one of them is a sergeant posted as an office employee and the other is a second lieutenant who is currently a teacher at an army school. 

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The country often posts its military personnel in hospital, factory and school services.  

The general further revealed that the unidentified kidnappers belonged to Jalisco New Generation, a local drug cartel “because of the way in which they operated.”

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Local news outlets such as Puerto Vallarta News speculate that the kidnapping was an act of vengeance because of the recent apprehension of a member of the Jalisco drug cartel.

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While the army did not shed much light on how the women were freed, a statement revealed that the duo was freed on Thursday after 15 hours of captivity. 

The Mexican state of Jalisco continues to be ruled by the terrorizing Jalisco New Generation cartel. The cartel is known for constantly engaging in violent clashes with the Mexican army and having several weapons and arms such as weaponized drones at their disposal.