Greenwich PD bust human trafficking ring

Greenwich (WTNH) - Nineteen people are being held in custody as Greenwich and federal authorities are investigating a human smuggling operation that started in Texas.

Authorities intercepted a large passenger van around 11 a.m., Sunday, at the Riverside Commons Strip Mall parking lot; that is where the kidnappers agreed to meet family members, of those being held captive, in exchange for ransom.

Police report that the family members ambushed the kidnappers at the parking lot with baseball bats.

Greenwich police arrived, to the scene, and everyone reportedly scattered.

Local police were already on alert for the suspect vehicle after federal authorities issued a warning for a blue van with Texas plates; the state where the human smuggling operation allegedly started.

Witnesses say about a half dozen Greenwich Police cars responded to the scene. Steven Lupinacci saw the incident unravel first hand and took raw video while driving by.

"The traffic stopped in front of me and you saw the cops circle the vehicle they had pulled over," said Lupinacci.

Greenwich Police have arrested one of the two kidnapping suspects; the other remains at large however no description has been issued.

Federal authorities are also holding four people for questioning and immigration violations.