Mexico ( Mexican Authorities Arrest 10 Suspected People Smugglers )

MEXICO CITY – Three Indians and seven Mexicans were arrested for smuggling people from Asia and Africa into the United States via Mexico, the federal Attorney General’s Office said Sunday.

The 10 suspected people traffickers, who belong to an international network, were arrested in Mexico state, Quintana Roo and the Federal District, the AG’s office said in a statement.

Law enforcement agents from Mexico state, which surrounds the Federal District and forms part of the Mexico City metropolitan area, and the Federal District arrested the people smugglers and rescued 13 migrants from India, Bangladesh and Nepal, the AG’s office said.

The two Indians, five Bangladeshis and six Nepalese were “being held in unhealthy conditions,” the AG’s office said.

Federal Police officers and personnel from two other agencies also participated in the operation.

The investigation started in August and led to the identification of the leaders of the smuggling network, which helped people from Bangladesh, India, Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Somalia enter the United States illegally, the AG’s office said.

Arrest warrants have been issued for several other suspects, federal prosecutors said.