Army Frees 165 Migrants Near US Border Who Say They Were Kidnapped BBC News
go to original June 6, 2013

A memorial to migrants who have died crossing from Mexico into the US: "How many more have to die?" (Associated Press)

The Mexican army says it has rescued 165 migrants kidnapped by a criminal gang at least two weeks ago.

The migrants were trying to cross to the US illegally but were taken hostage in northern Tamaulipas state by a gang who demanded cash from relatives. Most of the victims were from Central American countries.

The migrants were probably betrayed by human trafficking gangs who were paid to get them into the US, a Mexican government spokesperson said.

Instead of taking the group across the border, they handed them over to another criminal organisation that operates in northern Mexico. The kidnappers had been phoning relatives of the victims and demanding further money transfers, said government spokesman Eduardo Sanchez.

Read the rest at BBC News

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