The 16 Chiapas government officials who were kidnapped in Mexico

A group of 16 police officers who were kidnapped on June 27 in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas were released Friday, state governor Rutilio Escandon said.

“I want to inform the people of Chiapas and Mexico that the 16 kidnapped companeros from the SS y PC (Security Secretariat) have been released this afternoon,” the local government official said via Twitter, while local television stations showed I live the reunion between those released and their families.

I want to inform the people of Chiapas and Mexico that the 16 kidnapped SS y PC comrades have been released this afternoon. We thank the President lopezobrador, the Mexican Army, the Navy, the National Guard, the Prosecutor's Offices and the State Police for their collaboration.

When they saw them arrive, their relatives ran to hug them between shouts and tears of emotion at the surprise of their arrival, according to images from the Foro TV and Milenio television stations. Some of the employees arrived holding hands or hugging and looked visibly tired, according to the AFP agency.

“We thank President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, the Mexican Army, Navy, Guard Nacional, the Prosecutors and State Police for their collaboration”, Escandon added on his Twitter, without giving further details on how his release was achieved.

Some thousand agents from the state and federal security forces took part since June 28 in operations to rescue the hostages, who were held in the town of Ocozoco autla when they were traveling on a bus after work. 33 people were traveling on the bus, of whom 16 men were apprehended and 17 women were released.