79 Central American migrants rescued in Mexico

The Associated Press
1:08 p.m. January 30, 2009

VERACRUZ, Mexico — Mexican officials say they have rescued 79 kidnapped migrants from a house in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz.
Veracruz state Public Safety spokeswoman Leticia Rosado says the migrants were found late Thursday in the city of Coatzacoalcos. Most were apparently abducted by several men after getting off a cargo train.

Central Americans often travel illegally through Mexico on trains headed toward the U.S. Organized gangs have been known to kidnap them and extort money from relatives before letting them go.

Also Friday, federal police said they discovered 13 Central American migrants in the hidden compartment of a truck in southern Chiapas state. Thirteen others were found in a bus with no license plates traveling in Veracruz.

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