Yadira Guillermo Garcia made a video demanding her husband back from a Mexican drug gang — by showing them she had kidnapped the gang leader's mother.

El Tequilero's gang had seized Isauro de Paz Duquem, an engineer, from San Miguel Totolapan in Guerrero state.

Garcia was his wife.

The Villagers Fought Back

Local residents took up arms and detained at least 20 people, including María Félix de Almonte — the mother of gang leader Raybel Jacobo de Almonte, known as El Tequilero.

In her video message, Garcia addressed the gang leader directly: "We have your mother here, mister known as El Tequilero. I request an exchange. I want him safe and sound."

Another video showed armed residents describing years of suffering: "They have humiliated us, they have killed our families, and we won't let it happen again."

Many villagers had grown desperate, unable to afford ransom demands if their loved ones were taken.

The Exchange

Even the gang leader's mother appealed to her son in a video message: "Look, son. If you have the engineer, deliver him please."

Then-governor Hector Astudillo confirmed that 200 security personnel arrived to settle the dispute.

Both María Félix de Almonte and Isauro de Paz Duquem were released safely on December 15.

What This Revealed

Isauro de Paz Duquem was photographed holding his child amid celebrating residents after his release.

The Tequileros cartel controlled opium trafficking in the region and was known for mass kidnappings, extortion and killings.

One outlet noted that seldom have townspeople in Mexico won such a striking victory over drug gangs.