SANTA ANA : Kidnaped Teen Returned to Family

A 14-year-old boy kidnaped by smugglers because his aunts could not pay the fee to sneak him over the Mexican border was returned to relatives four hours later, police said Wednesday.

Police spokesperson Maureen Thomas said the family refuses to press charges against the men suspected of driving away with the boy on Tuesday.

The aunts, Maria and Marina Marin of Santa Ana, said they fear retaliation from the men who are known throughout their apartment complex as smugglers of immigrants, or coyotes. None of the men could be reached for comment.

Maria Marin said Wednesday that she and her sister did not know their nephew was coming from their hometown of Acapulco until one of the coyotes knocked on their door to say he was in the car. However, the smugglers said they would not release the boy until they were paid $350.

Maria Marin said they told the man they could pay only $100, plus some jewelry, and would give him the rest of the money later.

Their offer was refused, and the men drove away.

Maria Marin said she believes the smugglers returned the boy unharmed after four hours because they saw that she had written down the license plate number of their car.

“As they already returned him to us, and we are afraid they will do something to us, we don’t want to pursue this anymore,” Maria Marin said.

Thomas said it is not uncommon for a smuggling deal involving immigrants from Mexico or Central America to turn into extortion and kidnaping.