Kidnap suspects arrested

Two men, who authorities believe were trying to smuggle two women and a child into the U.S. from Brazil, were arrested in Costa Mesa on Thursday.The federal government may file charges against two men who were arrested Thursday on suspicion of kidnapping. Immigration authorities believe the pair may have attempted to smuggle two women and a child into the United States from Brazil.

Costa Mesa police arrested Reynaldo Eid Jr. , 46, of New York City and Alaor Docarmo Olivera Jr., 51, of Danbury, Conn., at 10 p.m. Thursday at the Travelodge in the 1900 block of Newport Boulevard, Costa Mesa police Lt. John FitzPatrick said. The men were taken to Orange County Jail and held on $1 million bail.

FitzPatrick referred all other questions to immigration officials.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spokeswoman Virginia Kice said Friday that her agency is working with the U.S. Attorney’s office in an investigation that could lead to federal charges being filed against the two as early as next week.

The women, both in their early 20s, and the child, who is about 5 years old, have been released to acquaintances, Kice said. All three were described as Brazilian nationals.

Kice said one of the women contacted a relative in Florida after one of the men reportedly told her they were increasing the smuggling fee.

“They demanded more money, and at that point the relative in Florida contacted someone they knew in Orange County,” Kice said.

The Orange County resident, described as a family friend, at some point contacted the alleged kidnappers at the Travelodge, Kice said.

Kice did not have precise information about whether Costa Mesa police were alerted to the alleged crime before or after the family friend went to the motel. She said immigration officials were notified after Costa Mesa police arrested the two men.

The women and the child were not injured, Kice said. She declined to say whether the alleged victims were in danger of any physical harm.

Kice said she would not elaborate on specifics, pending an ongoing federal investigation.

Any federal charges filed against Eid or Olivera would be at the discretion of federal prosecutors, Kice said.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at andrew.edwards@latimes.com.