EL PASO, Texas (Border Report) – Police in Juarez, Mexico, say they rescued 49 migrants and arrested three men allegedly holding them against their will with an M-1 Carbine rifle in a home in Colonia Hidalgo.

Chihuahua state police officers backed by members of Mexico’s National Guard arrested Juan Jose L.L., a.k.a. “El Bananas,” Luis Alfonso C. and Daniel Omar C. on kidnapping charges on Sunday. They also took custody of 28 citizens of Guatemala, 11 from Vietnam, three from Brazil, two from Bolivia and five from Mexico.

“People in transit are being grabbed the moment they arrive at the border and contact someone who can cross them” into the United States, said Luis Aguirre, chief of staff of the state police. “Once in their custody, these groups demand more money from them.”

Aguirre on Monday told reporters the state police in January freed 200 migrants in Juarez who were being held from ransom.

He said Mexican and U.S. authorities are meeting regularly and exchanging information regarding the arrest of smugglers to identify the criminal groups in the area that are preying on migrants.

Police took the alleged kidnappers to Cereso No. 3 prison on Sunday. The migrants were taken to an immigration facility for a medical checkup; the Mexican nationals were to be given the choice of a discounted bus ticket to their home state or being released.