Edwin Aran “N” was detained on May 13, 2025, following a joint operation by Nayarit and Jalisco prosecutors and the FBI. The foreign victim was rescued alive after being taken from a Puerto Vallarta apartment to a motel in San Clemente de Lima.
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – In a coordinated cross-jurisdictional operation late yesterday, authorities in Nayarit took into custody Edwin Aran “N” on suspicion of aggravated kidnapping of a foreign national in Puerto Vallarta. The arrest, announced by the Nayarit State Attorney General’s Office on May 13, was carried out in Bahía de Banderas with support from the Jalisco Attorney General’s Office and agents of the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation.
According to official statements, the incident began on May 6, when the victim—identified only as a non-Mexican national—was abducted from an apartment complex in the Versalles neighborhood of Puerto Vallarta. Initial reports indicate the assailant restrained the victim at gunpoint before transporting them northward to a roadside motel in the municipality of San Clemente de Lima.
Agents from the Criminal Investigation Agency (Agencia de Investigación Criminal, AIC) in Jalisco worked in tandem with Nayarit counterparts to track the kidnappers’ movements. Through cellphone forensics and surveillance footage, investigators mapped the route taken by the suspect’s vehicle and pinpointed the motel where the victim was being held.
By May 12, the coordinated task force had secured search warrants and, under the aegis of both state attorneys general and the FBI’s legal attaché office, moved in. The victim was found unharmed and immediately turned over to medical personnel for evaluation. “Thanks to the swift and professional work of all agencies involved, we were able to ensure the safety of the victim and bring the alleged perpetrator to justice,” said a spokesperson for the Nayarit State Attorney General’s Office.
Edwin Aran “N” appeared before a judge yesterday afternoon, where he was formally charged with aggravated kidnapping. Mexican law mandates preventive detention in such cases; the court ordered he remain in custody for six months while the investigation continues and prosecutors prepare their case.
The involvement of the FBI underscores the international dimension of crimes against foreign visitors in Mexico. “We remain committed to assisting our Mexican partners wherever American citizens are victimized,” an FBI representative stated, highlighting the bureau’s role in transnational criminal investigations.
Puerto Vallarta, long celebrated for its beaches and vibrant tourism sector, has seen an uptick in high-profile security incidents in recent years. Local business owners, who rely heavily on international visitors, have expressed relief and renewed confidence in local law enforcement following the arrest.
In an effort to reassure travelers, Puerto Vallarta’s tourism board released a brief statement this morning, emphasizing that “safety is our top priority” and promising enhanced patrols in residential areas popular with expats and tourists alike. Meanwhile, the Jalisco State Attorney General’s Office pledged to intensify its interagency operations to deter similar crimes.
As the case moves forward, authorities will focus on gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses and experts, and exploring whether the suspect acted alone or as part of a larger network. The detainee’s defense attorney has indicated plans to challenge the preventive detention order, though no further details have been disclosed.
With the victim now safe and the alleged kidnapper behind bars, officials hope this resolution sends a clear message: foreign-national safety is taken seriously, and those who prey on visitors will face Mexico’s full legal consequences.
Edwin Aran “N” was detained on May 13, 2025, following a joint operation by Nayarit and Jalisco prosecutors and the FBI. The . . .
