Deputies rescue 8 people held for ransom
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by Ofelia Madrid - Mar. 28, 2009 09:40 PM
The Arizona Republic

Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies rescued eight people in Phoenix Saturday who said they were being held for ransom, officials said.

A woman called the sheriff's tip line and said her nephew was being held hostage by kidnappers who wanted $2,200, Sheriff Joe Arpaio said.

Deputies set up a sting operation Saturday afternoon at the drop off location near 35th Avenue and Camelback Road. Deputies arrested two kidnappers and rescued the woman's nephew, Arpaio said.

That arrest led deputies to a house near 35th and Glendale avenues where deputies found seven additional people including a woman being held hostage, Arpaio said.

"The people in there weren't fed for three days. They were stripped naked and beat up," he said. "We feel there might have been 30 hostages there earlier in the day."

Three additional kidnapers were arrested.

The victims and kidnappers were illegal immigrants, Arpaio said.

The case is still developing, but Arpaio said the kidnappers could face charges including kidnapping, extortion and human smuggling

www.azcentral.com