A top US anti-kidnapping expert was kidnapped in north-east Mexico last week in an audacious move amid a wave of drug-related violence and kidnappings.

Security adviser Felix Batista, 55, was abducted on Wednesday in Saltillo in Coahuila state after taking part in two conferences on business security, Reforma daily said yesterday, quoting local government officials.

The abduction "was not violent", said Fausto Destenave Kuri, a state security official, who confirmed the abduction to Vanguardia website.