IIMPACT rescues 15 kidnapping victims being held for ransom and arrests six suspects from two Phoenix drop houses (White Mountain Independent)

IIMPACT rescues 15 kidnapping victims being held for ransom and arrests six suspects from two Phoenix drop houses

Posted: Monday, March 14, 2011 5:00 am

Law enforcement investigators assigned to the multi-agency Illegal Immigration Apprehension Co-op Team (IIMPACT) served a search warrant at 2407 W. Adams in Phoenix on Sunday, March 6, 2011 with the assistance of the Phoenix Police Department's SWAT Team. Once inside the house, investigators discovered a total of ten people, three later identified as suspects and seven who were being held for ransom against their will.

Further investigation led IIMPACT investigators to serve a search warrant at 4821 N. 53 Ave. in Phoenix on Wednesday, March 9, 2011. That search warrant was served with the assistance of the Arizona Department of Public Safety's SWAT Team. Once inside the house, investigators discovered a total of 11 men and have identified three men as suspects, and eight men as victims. One man was transported by the Phoenix Fire Department to an area hospital for treatment of facial injuries that detectives believe was the result of an attempted extortion. The victims and suspects are believed to be in the country illegally.

The investigation began after one of the victim's relatives called their area law enforcement agency, stating their family member was being held for ransom for several thousand U.S. dollars and being threatened with serious physical injury if the ransom was not paid. IIMPACT Investigators located this original victim, along with six other kidnapping victims at the 2407 W. Adams residence.