Tijuana . State authorities revealed a kidnapping ring that stretched from this city to a tiny community in southern Mexico, where three women allegedly collected thousands of dollars in ransom.
The women were identified as sisters Minerva and Martha Villanueva Campusano, 32 and 22 years old, respectively, and Angélica María Campusano Rosales, 25.
The women were identified by members of a criminal cell who were detained in November.
According to the State Attorney Generals Office, at least 13 families reported that they were extorted by this cell in the last two years.
The women were transported to Tijuana over the weekend, where they were accused of crimes related to organized crime, aggravated assault and violent robbery. They were taken to the La Mesa State Prison to await prosecution.
According to the State Attorney Generals Office, the investigation began in September after a number of kidnapping victims contacted authorities.
They told investigators that while trying to cross the border illegally through a place known as Paso del Águila, near Tecate, they were intercepted by various persons who kidnapped them and forced their families to each pay a ransom of between $3,000 and $5,000.
The federal unit that combats organized crime, known as SIEDO, received 13 such reports from would-be immigrants.
In November, authorities arrested Hugo Ruperto León, Luis Bernardo León and Juan Carlos León, sons and father, respectively, who were charged with kidnapping and violent robbery.
They lured the immigrants by telling them they were smugglers and then kidnapped them, authorities explained. Then the three women from the town of Teloloapan, in Guerrero state,allegedly collected the ransom from the migrants families, who paid for their release.
The deposits were made electronically to the three women, who worked this operation from their hometown, authorities said.
Omar.millan@sandiegored.com
