MEXICO CITY: Mexico forward Alan Pulido has been kidnapped in the northern border state of Tamaulipas, near his home in Ciudad Victoria, after leaving a party.

The 25-year-0ld plays for Greek champions Olympiakos and has scored four goals in six internationals for Mexico – a country with one of the world’s highest kidnapping rates. Government figures say 1,000 people are taken every year but critics claim the true figure is far higher.

Local media reports said Pulido had been leaving a party with his girlfriend late on Saturday night when their car was surrounded by several trucks.

Six masked men reportedly took the striker away “by force” while his girlfriend was left unharmed in the car park where the incident took place.

Tamaulipas is one of Mexico’s most violent states, and Mexico recently deployed more security forces to tackle cartels operating in the area.

Dozens of people have been killed in recent weeks in the border state, which is criss-crossed by drug-smuggling routes to the United States.

Pulido joined Olympiakos last July and finished the season with six goals in 15 games.

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