ROME – The relatives of three men from Naples who were allegedly sold by Mexican police officers to a drug cartel have offered a reward of two million pesos for “news” as to the whereabouts of their relatives.

 Back in February the families alleged that Raffaele Russo, 60, his son Antonio, 25, and his nephew, Vincenzo Cimmino, 29, had been sold for the equivalent of 43 euros each to a criminal gang in Mexico, in the notorious Jalisco region. 

 Police had detained the officers in question, who have already appeared before a judge in the country but who have failed to provide either the name of the gang that the men were sold to, or the price. 

 The trail for locating the three men, all natives of Naples, appears to have gone cold. No contact has been had with them since the end of January and now the relatives have felt compelled to act. 

 The two million pesos on offer is the equivalent of 89,500 euros. Speaking to the French media, Francesco Russo, a relative of those kidnapped, said that “the Mexican government has not promised any recompense in exchange for information.”

 He added that “I hope and have faith in justice, but I don’t have any certainty,” before arguing that a reward would not interfere in any way with the investigation. 

 The family have likewise continued to apply pressure to the Italian government to attend to the case, with the Foreign Ministry insisting that they have stressed the necessity of a “quick resolution of the case” to their Mexican counterparts. 

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