By PATRICK GOWER
Another Asian student extortion ring has been foiled in Auckland, this time involving two kidnap victims held together at an inner-city motel.
The alleged kidnappers forced the pair to hand over substantial sums of money through withdrawals at ATM Machines.
Police were alerted when one victim escaped a week ago.
"They were being held in place by fear," said Detective Brett Batty, of Avondale.
"But he made a conscious decision to remove himself from the group that had been standing over him."
Detectives staked out the motel, but the kidnappers had left, taking the other victim. He escaped when his captor fell asleep and also went to the police.
Detectives raided a motel room and arrested an Asian man. They are hunting others alleged to have been involved in the ring.
Mr Batty said police were working on the details of the kidnapping, but the victims had been held for between one and three days.
He would not disclose their nationalities nor the sums paid, but said both victims had been "sucked dry". Only a small amount of money had been recovered.
The two were seized two days after police swooped on a city bar where an attempt at extortion was being made on a 19-year-old Asian student, who had already paid $64,000 to a kidnapping ring.
Mr Batty said there was no evidence of links between the two rings, but police would "keep an open mind" as investigations continued.
Auckland police have noted an increase in extortion-type crimes in the Asian student community, but believe many crimes go unreported.
Mr Batty called on other victims to come forward with complaints.
"We are developing an understanding of the cultural situation creating these extortion rackets," he said.
'We are aware of the community's needs and are prepared to take whatever action necessary to ensure the safety of victims."
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