Thread: Phoenix Detectives Arrest Immigrant Kidnappers

Phoenix Detectives Arrest Immigrant Kidnappers

Arrests Also Lead To Pot, Guns
Catherine Anaya
News Anchor, KPHO CBS 5 News

POSTED: 3:58 pm MST February 17, 2011
UPDATED: 6:50 pm MST February 17, 2011

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Detectives have arrested four Mexican nationals believed to be operating as a so-called "rip crew," following a month-long investigation.

The Illegal Immigration Prevention Apprehension Co-op Team said these "Bajadores" abducted several undocumented immigrants in the desert near the Vekol Valley in January.

Detectives said the suspects threatened to shoot the victims if they did not do what they said, then forced them into a van and took them to Phoenix. According to detectives, the suspects called family members trying to extort money for their release.

The victims told detectives they were struck, and then threatened with death if their families did not pay.

Two of the four "Bajadore" suspects have been previously arrested. Detectives said they took a third "Bajadore" suspect into custody as he walked into a convenience store.

They arrested two other suspects at a Phoenix home, where detectives said they also recovered nine bales of marijuana and a couple of guns and a number of cell phones.

"I applaud our brave men and women of state law enforcement for their work in apprehending these dangerous individuals," said Gov. Jan Brewer. "Our nation's porous southern border has enabled criminal enterprises such as this to operate in our neighborhoods and communities.

Robert Halliday, director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, said, "These 'Bajadores' or rip crews need to be eradicated. Not only do they seek to profit from illegal immigration, they frequently use violence to achieve their goals.

"These arrests will help send the message to other rip crews that we are monitoring their activity and will remove them from the streets no matter how long it takes," Halliday added.

http://www.kpho.com/arizona/26905425/detail.html

here is another story on the Vekol Valley

http://www.alipac.us/ftopict-228448.html