Mexico's army told the press that they rescued 165 migrants, who were kidnapped by a gang more than two weeks ago.
On Thursday, government officials said that the migrants, (151 of whom were foreigners), apparently attempted to enter the United States illegally, but were suddenly kidnapped in Tamaulipas state by a gang who held the group hostage, demanding their relatives pay cash for their release.
Most of the foreigners who were held captive hailed from Central America-77 were from El Salvador, 50 from Guatemala, 23 from Honduras and 14 were from Mexico, the BBC reported. The cluster of foreigners also included an Indian national.
Seven children and two pregnant women were in the group of kidnapped people as well, federal security spokesperson Eduardo Sanchez told the Latin American Herald Tribune.
"The people rescued said they had been detained [by the gang] in various actions and places along the border strip when they were trying to find a way to cross," into the United States, Sanchez told reporters. "They said they had been kidnapped by an armed individual and that they had been deprived of their freedom in precarious, dirty and overcrowded conditions."
The migrants were trapped in the gang's hideaway for more than two weeks, sleeping on mattresses with makeshift blankets made of towel and clothing. The criminals called the kidnapped peoples' families, asking for ransom money.
The army did not release Tuesday's crackdown to the media until two days later.
Those held hostage are all now in Mexican immigration officials' custody. They will most likely be moved to Mexico City and then repatriated to their respective countries of origin.
One person has been arrested in alleged connection to the kidnappings, the army told the BBC. He has only been identified as Juan "N," as of Friday.
