Arizona Sisters Victims of Armed Attack on Mexico’s Infamous Sonoyta-Caborca ​​Highway

Tragedy struck on a notorious stretch of Mexican highway near the southern border when two Arizona residents, both women aged 72 and 82, were victims of 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, leading to their untimely deaths. 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 attacks on highways, specifically targeting pickup trucks and SUVs, have become increasingly common in the region, as stolen vehicles motivate the gunmen. Media reports have suggested that the attackers in this case may have also targeted the women’s vehicle. As relayed in a Facebook post, the husband of one of the victims expressed his deep loss, saying, “Today is the most terrible day in the existence of my family, because (gunmen) who wanted to rob my wife and sister-in-law killed them on the Sonoyta-Caborca ​​section (of the highway).” This statement was obtained via the account of José Ortiz Reyes, a former professor at the University of Sonora, as reported by Fox News Digital.

Investigations into the armed highway attack are ongoing, with no motive revealed by the FGJE at this time. Following the attack, security forces from multiple levels of government launched an extensive search for the group responsible, using air and ground support. A stolen Ford F-150 believed to have been used 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 Sonora region, notorious for crimes such as human trafficking and violence, remains a troubled area for travelers and residents. The U.S. Department of State has advised U.S. citizens to reconsider their travel due to crime and possible kidnappings. “Sonora is a major location used by international drug trafficking and human trafficking networks. Violent crime is widespread. U.S. citizens and LPRs have been victims of kidnappings,” the department warned in a statement that was highlighted in a report by Mexico News Daily. They are advising a heightened level of alert for anyone traveling in Sonora, as security incidents can occur anywhere in the state.

As tensions persist in a region once the domain of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, violence continues even as the notorious drug lord serves a life sentence in Colorado. Three cartels are still fighting in Sonora, contributing to the state’s status as one of Mexico’s most violent, according to data published by the national statistics agency INEGI. The stark reality of this violence is food for thought for those considering the area for travel or transit. The recent deaths of Arizona residents only underscore the acute dangers posed by the perilous Sonoyta-Caborca ​​highway corridor.