Mexico rescues 11 Vietnamese kidnapped near US border

By Duc Trung, Minh Nga February 18, 2025 | 07:58 pm PT

Migrants are rescued at the Mexico-U.S. border. Photo by Mexico police

Mexican police have rescued 49 migrants, including 11 Vietnamese, who had been kidnapped by a human trafficking gang in Chihuahua state, near the U.S. border.

Chihuahua state police, in coordination with Mexico's National Guard, rescued the migrants over the weekend and arrested three male suspects accused of illegal detention at an apartment in Colonia Hidalgo, state officials announced Monday at a press conference, according to Border Report.

The three suspects allegedly used an M-1 rifle to control the group of migrants.

Among the 49 victims were 28 Guatemalans, 11 Vietnamese, five Mexicans, three Brazilians, and two Bolivians. They were later taken to an immigration facility for medical check-ups.

The detainees were identified as Juan José LL, alias "El Bababas", 23, Daniel Omar FC, alias "El Flaco", 24, and Luis Alfonso OC, 21, who were seized with a 5.56-millimeter caliber rifle, a magazine, 20 live cartridges, 30 packages of drugs and a Nissan Versa vehicle, El Diario de Chihuahua reported.

Luis Aguirre, chief of staff of the state police, stated that individuals in transit are immediately taken upon arrival at the border when they reach out to someone who can help them cross into the United States.

He said that once these individuals are in the custody of certain groups, they are forced to pay additional money.

The incident follows a similar case in January when Chihuahua police rescued more than 200 migrants who had been kidnapped for ransom in Juarez. The U.S. and Mexico are intensifying their efforts to share intelligence on human trafficking activities in border regions.

In a statement on Feb. 15, U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper warned that hundreds of people go missing or die each year while attempting to migrate illegally to the U.S. Even those who successfully reach the U.S. may still face detention or become victims of human trafficking.

Like many who try to travel illegally to the United States, these people "find no bright future, only suffering, regret, and death," Knapper said. The risky journeys, whether by air, land, or sea, cost illegal immigrants and their families money, health, and even their lives.

"Don't do this. Don't believe the false promises of traffickers, online scammers and people promising to help you with your visa application," he stressed.