Thread: TX-Immigration authorities sorting out freeway kidnap drama

102Comments 4Recommend
Immigration authorities sorting out freeway kidnap drama
By DALE LEZON
April 15, 2009, 1:09PM

An alleged abduction in southwest Houston earlier this week appears to be part of human smuggling operation that was thwarted when the victim jumped from his kidnappers' car on a freeway near downtown.

Six men, including the victim and his relatives as well as three suspects, were arrested following a brief police chase. No injuries were reported.

Federal immigration authorities said the men were in the country illegally and were involved in a human trafficking plot.

However, officials declined to discuss details of the case because the investigation is ongoing. The names of the men have not been released.

"It's more of an alleged human smuggling incident that went bad," said Gregory Palmore, a spokesman for the federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Officials said the victim, a 21-year-old from Honduras, apparently was kidnapped and driven in the suspects' car toward downtown.

One of the victim's relatives witnessed the abduction and followed in his car, officials said.

In slow-moving traffic on I-45 northbound above Pierce, the victim jumped from the suspects' car.

Police followed the suspects and arrested them near the North Main exit.

Two of the alleged smugglers are from Mexico and the third is from El Salvador. The United States Attorney's Office in Houston is considering what criminal charges to file against them for their involvement in the smuggling plan, officials said.

The victim's relatives are from Honduras. Immigration authorities are investigating their immigrantion status.

dale.lezon@chron.com


http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/met ... 74935.html

I guess we really should not gripe about sitting in slow-moving traffic these days.