Mexican Beauty Queen Among Those Arrested in Kidnap Gang

A Mexican beauty queen was among eight people arrested on Thursday on suspicion of being involved with a kidnapping gang. According to Mexico News Daily, Laura Mojica Romero, 25, has been jailed without bail for allegedly being a part of a kidnapping ring that operates in Veracruz and Oaxaca.

Authorities reportedly said that Romero and seven others had been arrested in a raid conducted by a federal anti-kidnapping unit following two months of investigation.

Prosecutors said that Laura Mojica Romero and the other suspects were allegedly involved in a criminal organization connected to multiple kidnappings.

Crime Online reported that the Mexican beauty queen was arrested with two other women and five men. On Saturday, a judge ruled that Romero and seven other kidnapping suspects will remain in prison for the next two months as the investigation continues.

Meanwhile, Romero's mother said her daughter was "a victim of a crime that was fabricated," Daily Mail reported.

"The injustice that they are doing to my daughter makes me feel afraid, since my daughter was the victim of a crime that was fabricated," María del Carmen Romero said in the report.

Romero's mother further noted that her daughter had dedicated herself over the years to put "her mind and heart in the name of her state." She added that she wanted her daughter's name to be cleared because "she is innocent."

The Mexican beauty queen could face a 50-year sentence if convicted for the charges that have been filed against them.

Laura Mojica Romero and Kidnapping Allegations

Authorities claimed that Laura Mojica Romero played a role in a kidnapping that happened in the Veracruz capital of Xalapa.

However, her mother noted that Romero's lawyers had provided phone records that could prove that the Mexican beauty queen was nowhere near the scene of the said abduction of a victim whom she said was a male.

Maria emphasized that her daughter deserves justice because she is innocent and "she owes nothing."

Mexican Beauty Queen

Laura Mojica Romero was crowned as Miss Oaxaca in 2018. The Mexican model was also placed third in the Miss Mexico 2019 and was the runner-up at the International Queen of Coffee in Colombia last year.

Romero was only identified by her first name in a statement released by investigators. She was described as one of the "eight alleged members of a criminal organization" specializing in a kidnapping.

Prosecutors said "the capture" of María del Rosario 'N'; Luis Antonio 'N'; Raúl 'N'; Laura 'N'; Ana Martha 'N'; Diego 'N'; César Enrique Escobar; and Jossiel Escobar happened in Veracruz.

They said that personnel specialized in tackling kidnapping carried out the operation "to capture those now linked to this judicial investigation."

Among those arrested with Romero were a former government official and an ex-police officer. The Mexican beauty queen is reportedly being held in a jail at Huatusco, Veracruz.

In an interview in January 2019 after her Miss Oaxaca win, Romero defined herself as more than just a pretty face. Romero, a graduate of Veracruz University with a bachelor's degree in business administration, said tackling the problem of violence against women was among her priorities.

At the time, Laura Mojica Romero, who is also fluent in English, also said she was a spokesperson in the fight against breast cancer and cancer in children.