Mexican army frees 25 kidnapped migrants
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 08/19/2008 09:54:21 AM MDT


VERACRUZ, Mexico—Mexican officials say soldiers have rescued 25 Central Americans kidnapped in the Gulf coast state of Veracruz.
State police spokesman Sergio Lopez says the army raided a house in the town of Tierra Blanca and arrested one man Monday. He says authorities are looking for five other suspects.

Migrant Miguel Palacios says he and others were kidnapped after arriving at Tierra Blanca's train station Friday. He says the men beat him in the face and body, and hit him with wooden boards. The assailants demanded each migrant pay $500 (euro340).

The Guatemalans, Hondurans and Salvadorans were heading to the United States.

Lopez says doctors were examining the men and women Tuesday, before handing them over to immigration officials for deportation.

(This version corrects that the men were kidnappers, not smugglers. )


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