Police: Human-smuggling suspects kidnapped by rivals
Elias C. Arnold
The Arizona Republic
Jan. 6, 2008 12:05 PM

Police say they found suspected members of a human-smuggling ring with hands and feet bound inside a Phoenix residence late Saturday, part of a possible kidnapping by a rival group.

Investigators think a "kidnapping organization" took four members of the group captive and fled with the smugglers' leader before police arrived to the 4200 block of North 35th Avenue, police reported.

Police said officers were called to the residence about 10:45 p.m. when a suspected human smuggler escaped and contacted police.

Police responded to the scene to find two men bound, but the victims' captors and the smuggling-ring leader were gone.

Some family members have been uncooperative, stymieing attempts to locate the victim, according to Phoenix Police.

Investigators think the kidnappers fled using the leader's vehicle. The suspected kidnappers and their victim are still outstanding.

A vehicle description was not immediately available.

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