4 Arrested in Smuggling of Illegal Immigrants
Four men were arrested Monday for allegedly smuggling three people into this country from Mexico and holding them hostage until their smuggling fee was paid.
Long Beach police received a call Sunday night from a man who had gone to a street corner to pick up his father, who had been recently brought in from Mexico. When the son did not have the money to pay his balance to the smugglers, the men drove away.
An investigation led officers to a house in the 1200 block of Harris Avenue in Compton. Police arrested Jose Lara, 28, Israel Perez, 24, Ramon Aceves, 32, and Alberto Ruiz, 27, said police spokeswoman Karen Kerr Owens.
Police also found two other illegal immigrants locked in a garage.
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