The three victims were kidnapped from the nearby Veracruz municipality of Las Choapas on Friday, the official said. Although the motive was unclear, the perpetrators were believed to be part of a criminal gang.
Veracruz and Tabasco lie on Mexico`s Gulf Coast, an area long ravaged by drug smugglers and people traffickers.
Home to Mexico`s main Atlantic port, Veracruz suffered a surge in violence in 2016, with murders leaping by 123 percent to 1,258 from the previous year, official data showed.
Javier Duarte, the previous state governor, is wanted on corruption charges and has been a fugitive since shortly before his term was due to finish at the end of November.
/Reuters/
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