McALLEN, Texas (AP) A U.S. government informant who helped arrange a drug
sting was found dead in Mexico Tuesday, five days after armed men abducted
him from in front of his used clothing and appliance store, the FBI said.

The body of Hector Salinas Guerra, 42, was found in Reynosa, Mexico, by
members of the Tamaulipas State Judicial Police, FBI spokesman John DeLeon
said. He said he didn't know how Salinas died or precisely where his body was
found.

The discovery came as seven men caught in the sting are on trial this week on
charges of arranging to smuggle 2,971 pounds of marijuana into the United
States.

Police said Salinas was outside his store in McAllen on Thursday when he was
forced at gunpoint into a green Chevrolet Suburban by four men wearing hats
bearing Mexican police insignias. His body was found just over the Mexican
border, about 12 miles from McAllen.

Fire officials refused comment on whether a burned Chevrolet Suburban found a
mile from Salinas' shop is linked to the case.

Mexican federal police denied any connection with Salinas' abduction and
death.

Prosecutors said Salinas, a Mexican living in McAllen, helped arrange a May
13 federal sting that smashed a drug smuggling ring and led to this week's
trial.

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