http://www.startribune.com/sicily-police-break-up-migrant-kidnap-extortion-racket/303590381/
Sicily police break up migrant kidnap, extortion racket
Associated Press
MAY 13, 2015 — 8:25AM
ROME (AP) — Officials in Sicily say they have arrested five people
accused of kidnapping newly arrived migrants and extorting their
relatives for 200 euros (dollars) apiece to free them so they can
continue their journeys north.
Wednesday's arrests marked the latest effort by police to undermine
the booming human-trafficking industry in southeastern Sicily, where
tens of thousands of migrants are arriving after being rescued at sea
from smugglers' boats.
Police said they were tipped off to the case by an Eritrean who
reported receiving a call from an unknown trafficker. The trafficker
said he was holding the man's young cousin hostage and would only free
her once 200 euros was deposited in his account. Police said once
payments were received, migrants were then bused to Milan.
Received on Wed May 13 2015 - 22:17:59 EDT