The cousin of two sisters who went missing along with a friend after crossing the US border into Mexico to sell clothes has spoken about her agony at their disappearance.
Maritza Trinidad Perez Rios, 47, Marina Perez Rios, 48, and their friend, Dora Alicia Cervantes Saenz, 53, went missing while on their way to a flea market.
US Customs and Border Protection say the three women crossed into Mexico from Peñitas, a small border city in Texas, on February 24.
Peñitas is a few hundred feet from the Rio Grande.
Peñitas Police Chief Roel Bermea said their families have been in touch with Mexican authorities, who are investigating their disappearance.
Now Ludy Arredondo, the cousin of the Perez sisters, has spoken out about the ordeal.
She wrote: "Today is day 16 and we still don't know about my cousins Maritza Perez, Marina Perez and Dora Cervantes.
"They have been strong, exhausting, desperate days without knowing what's up with them, hard-working, honest women who have nothing to do with illegal situations.
"They only went to work. So far the FBI has joined their search after so many days of their disappearance, time is ticking and not in their favour."
The FBI said in a statement it "relentlessly pursues all options when it comes to protecting the American people, and this doesn't change when they are endangered across the border".
Writing two days ago, Ms Arredondo said: "So far we do not have a single piece of news, the authorities do not say anything, they do not have clues.
She begged: "Please do not leave us alone and keep sharing."
“Since he couldn’t make contact over that weekend, he came in that Monday and reported it to us,” Police Chief Bermea said. The three women haven’t been heard from since.
The husband of one of the missing women had spoken to her by phone while she was travelling in Mexico, the police chief said, but grew concerned when he couldn’t reach her afterwards.
Bermea said the women were travelling in a green mid-1990s Chevy Silverado to a flea market in the city of Montemorelos, in Nuevo Leon state.
The family's frustration has only been made worse by the decisive response from US authorities over the four US citizens abducted in Matamoros, Mexico.
That kidnapping gained massive publicity, and the two surviving members of the group were handed over to the authorities including five cartel members who a letter described as responsible.
In another online message, Ms Arredondo wrote: "Today they posted the news that they caught the kidnappers of those 4 Americans to rescue them, the day after their kidnapping.
"Good for them! Bravooo. And why for them is there such speed? There are answers? There are victims and perpetrators? And for this family? And for Maritza Perez? Marina Perez and Dora Cervantes ? Who do we have to look for?"
