More than 2,000 migrants kidnapped by smugglers, cartels in Mexico in 2022

ISTANBUL (AA) — A total of 2,115 migrants were kidnapped by smugglers and cartels in Mexico in 2022, according to the country's national immigration agency.

In a statement late Friday, the National Institute of Migration said that along with Interpol, they recorded that 2,115 people, mostly foreigners, were held by human traffickers last year.

Three of them were Mexican women who were subjected to human trafficking, the statement added.

The agency added that they rescued 4,549 foreigners irregularly transiting through Mexican territory during 2022.

The Mexican immigration agency statement came after officials said that 10 Colombian irregular migrants were found safe in Mexico’s northern border state of Sonora after they went missing on Tuesday.

Mexico is a key transit route for irregular immigrants seeking to get to the US from other countries in Central and South America. Migrants who make it to Mexico then often fall into the hands of migrant smugglers or drug gangs.​​​​​​​