8 January 2012
Last updated at 02:22 ET
Mr Ortiz’s family had feared the goalkeeper had been kidnapped himself
Former Mexican international footballer Omar “El Gato” Ortiz has been arrested for allegedly participating in a kidnapping ring, police have announced.
The goalkeeper is accused of working with a gang operating in Nuevo Leon state responsible for more than 20 abductions, a security spokesman said.
Jorge Domene said 35-year-old Mr Ortiz had admitted helping to select wealthy victims for the group.
Mr Ortiz was suspended from playing in 2010 after failing a steroids test.
Earlier, his relatives said they feared he had been kidnapped as they had not heard from him since Wednesday.
Ransoms
Mr Ortiz, whose nickname means “the cat”, was presented to the media along with other suspects on Saturday evening.
Officials in Monterrey accused him of being involved in kidnappings in the second half of 2011, with the group allegedly demanding a ransom of around one million pesos ($72,000; £46,000) per
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