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Illegal immigrants kidnapped
Monday, April 24, 2006 Updated: 06:17 PM
Two men and one woman are charged with aggravated kidnapping

HIDALGO COUNTY – Investigators found 11 illegal immigrants that had been smuggled into the U.S., then kidnapped and held at gunpoint.

Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino said, “The kidnapping probably occurred as a conflict between two smuggling groups, who had possibly been kidnapped or held for ransom themselves.”

Sheriff Trevino says the group was taken to a home. Then six masked, armed men forced the group to a different home and turned them over to two men and a woman, who held them at gunpoint.

Investigators say one of immigrants was able to crawl through a window and run to get help.

Sheriff Trevino also says human smugglers are getting bold. “They're using human beings as commodity. Obviously, they don't care about the health and well being of these illegal immigrants,” he said.

Sheriff investigators are still looking for the six masked men and one illegal immigrant who was left behind.