Texas warns tourists about Mexico gang

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NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico, July 3 (UPI) -- Police in Texas urged Americans to stay out of the Mexican border city of Nuevo Laredo over the holiday weekend.

The Texas Department of Public Safety and Webb County Sheriff's Office issued a statement Saturday warning that the notorious Zetas drug ring would be targeting American tourists.

"According to the information we have received, the Zetas are planning a possible surge in criminal activity, such as robberies, extortions, car-jackings and vehicle theft, specifically against U.S. citizens," DPS Director Steven McCraw said in a written statement. "We urge U.S. citizens to avoid travel to Nuevo Laredo this weekend if it can be avoided."

CNN said that while the Zetas specialize in narcotics, they have also been branching out into crimes such as extortion and kidnapping.

City officials in Nuevo Laredo said they were not aware of the Texas warning and noted there had been no reported murders or gun battles in the past week.