6 June 2013
Last updated at 20:54 GMT
Mexico rescues 165 migrants near US
The Mexican army says it has freed 165 migrants who were
trying to cross illegally into the US but were kidnapped by a criminal
gang.
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6 June 2013
Last updated at 20:53 GMT
A memorial to migrants who have died crossing from Mexico into the US: "How many more have to die?"
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.
Pregnant women The operation took place on Tuesday, in the municipality of Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, but has only now been reported.
The army was alerted to the presence of heavily armed men at a property in the area, said Mr Sanchez.
When it stormed the property, it found 165 people, including two pregnant women and eight children.
The victims are from El Salvador (77), Guatemala (50), Honduras (23), Mexico (14) and there is also a citizen from India.
They are all under the custody of immigration officials and will be transferred to Mexico City.
One person has been arrested, the army said. He was identified only as Juan "N".
Human rights organisations say migrants attempting to cross illegally into the United States are being increasingly targeted by criminal organisations.
Many are kidnapped and forced to work for the drug-trafficking cartels, such as Los Zetas.
COPY http://www.bbc.co.uk
A memorial to migrants who have died crossing from Mexico into the US: "How many more have to die?"
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.
Pregnant women The operation took place on Tuesday, in the municipality of Gustavo Diaz Ordaz, but has only now been reported.
The army was alerted to the presence of heavily armed men at a property in the area, said Mr Sanchez.
When it stormed the property, it found 165 people, including two pregnant women and eight children.
The victims are from El Salvador (77), Guatemala (50), Honduras (23), Mexico (14) and there is also a citizen from India.
They are all under the custody of immigration officials and will be transferred to Mexico City.
One person has been arrested, the army said. He was identified only as Juan "N".
Human rights organisations say migrants attempting to cross illegally into the United States are being increasingly targeted by criminal organisations.
Many are kidnapped and forced to work for the drug-trafficking cartels, such as Los Zetas.
COPY http://www.bbc.co.uk
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