Gang kidnaps 23 at Mexican rehab centre; 13 later found

MEXICO CITY – Prosecutors in north-central Mexico say 23 people were abducted from a private drug rehab centre, 13 of whom have been found alive.

Guanajuato state prosecutor Carlos Zamarripa said Thursday that a total of 30 people were at the rehab centre in the city of Irapuato.

Some ran when a gang burst into the centre Wednesday and 13 were later found alive, some of whom were injured. Zamarripa said those who had been found were loath to talk.

He said the incident appeared to be related to drug dealing.

In the past, Mexican drug gangs have used rehab centres as places to hide dealers or find customers. Rival gangs sometimes attack rehab centres to kill competitors or recruit addicts as dealers.