A Cuban doctor, Adrián Pupo Ojeda, has been kidnapped in Mexico while on a migratory journey, prompting his family to urgently seek help for his release. His distressed parents sent a video to Cuban journalist Mario Pentón, pleading desperately for their son's freedom.
In the video, Pupo's parents, overwhelmed with emotion, implore the abductors to release him so he can continue "to where he wanted to go." They highlight his responsibility towards his young son, the very reason he left Cuba. "Please help us!" cried his mother, while his father begged, "We ask you, please, let us see him again. Don't harm my son!"
Desperate Plea for Help
Mario Pentón shared the heart-wrenching video on his social media platforms, appealing to the captors for the doctor's release. "His family is desperate; they're being extorted for money, like many Cubans in similar situations," Pentón explained. "They are an extremely poor, humble family from Cuba with no means to pay a ransom."
Expressing his concern for the doctor's dangerous situation, Pentón hoped the video would reach the captors, making them aware of the family's plight. He showed a photo of Pupo with his young son in Cuba, urging his followers to spread the word online.
Community Support Sought
In a heartfelt Facebook post, young woman Dary Méndez called for solidarity and assistance in raising funds to pay the ransom and secure Pupo's release as soon as possible. "I can't find the right words to express this situation. Adrián Pupo Ojeda, a great friend, father, brother, son, and husband, is in grave danger after being kidnapped in Mexico,” Méndez wrote. “He left his homeland to seek a better life for his family, and now his life is at risk."
Méndez noted that the kidnappers are demanding money, though she did not specify the amount. She appealed to anyone who knows Pupo or can offer assistance, stating, "Even a single dollar is appreciated, as his family is extremely desperate. I can't imagine how I would feel if it were my relative." She provided her phone number for contact.
Victim of Migrant Crisis
Dr. Pupo, originally from Puerto Padre, graduated from the University of Medical Sciences in Las Tunas, as indicated on his social media profiles. The Cuban migration crisis has led to an increase in the abduction of Cubans in Mexico, with criminal groups exploiting the situation to extort money from immigrants' relatives in the United States.