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Mexican actress Irán Castillo returned to the center of the conversation after it was revealed that, 11 years after her kidnapping, her captors were sentenced to up to 165 years in prison.
But who is Irán Castillo and how did her kidnapping in 2015 happen? Did Gloria Trevi help pay her ransom? Here is the story.
Who is Irán Castillo?
Born on January 4, 1977, in Veracruz, Mexico, Irán Castillo ventured into the entertainment world when she was just a child.
At age 6, she began modeling for magazines and television. Later, at age 12, she formally started her acting career on programs such as Mujer, casos de la vida real.
In the late 80s, she joined the musical group Mosquitas Muertas and participated in various telenovelas, including Ángeles blancos.
However, it wasn't until 1994 that she obtained a significant role in Agujetas de color de rosa.
Irán also participated in youth productions like Preciosa, Soñadoras, Locura de amor and Clase 406.
After a break from television, she decided to focus on cinema and in 2006 she starred in Amor xtremo. Subsequently, she participated in films such as Cabeza de Buda, Chiles xalapeños and Viernes de ánimas.
Throughout her career, she has worked in film, theater, and television, in addition to venturing into voice acting and releasing three studio albums.
Among her most recent projects are the series Juegos interrumpidos (2024-2025), the telenovela Mi verdad oculta (2025), and the film Familia a la deriva (2026).
When was Irán Castillo kidnapped? How it happened in 2015
In 2024, Irán Castillo gave an interview to Jorge "el Burro" Van Rankin, in which she recounted her 2015 kidnapping after leaving a theater performance.
The actress recounted that she was driving her car through Desierto de los Leones around 11:30 at night when another vehicle, carrying three men and a woman, hit her from behind.
When she got out to call her insurance company, she was held at gunpoint and forced to get back into her car.
At first, Irán thought it was a robbery and decided not to reveal her real name. However, her captors eventually recognized her and asked her to contact a family member to negotiate her release.
She first called an aunt to avoid worrying her mother, but her aunt did not believe her. Finally, she had to contact her mother, who, as she recounted, was the person most affected by what happened.
The actress also revealed that the kidnappers did not have her as a specific target; their modus operandi was to attack women traveling alone.
After being held against her will for three days, her family paid the ransom and she was released.
Castillo added that the authorities arrested her kidnappers approximately a week and a half later, as they were already being investigated for eight other kidnappings.
Likewise, the actress assured that she suffered from Stockholm syndrome, as, according to her account, her captors did not physically assault her, although they did threaten her.
Because of this, she explained that she even felt grateful to them and refused to cooperate with the authorities.
"They had to call a psychologist to come and talk to me because I was in a state of denial," she recounted in an interview with Mara Patricia Castañeda.
Did Gloria Trevi pay Irán Castillo's ransom? The actress revealed this
Irán Castillo also revealed in the interview with Mara Patricia Castañeda that Gloria Trevi and her husband, Armando Gómez, contributed part of the money to pay her ransom, for which she was very grateful to both of them.
"Gloria Trevi, very kindly, cooperated and gave a large amount. You don't know how much I thank her and her husband, I truly thank them. I have a very special gratitude toward them," she explained.
Who kidnapped Irán Castillo? Nine people were sentenced
According to the Attorney General's Office (FGR), nine members of the criminal group linked to Irán Castillo's kidnapping received sentences of up to 165 years in prison.
The organization operated in Mexico City and in the municipalities of Nezahualcóyotl and Chalco, State of Mexico, where they caused crashes against motorists to commit the kidnappings.
These are the sentences and fines that those sentenced received:
- Cristian N. y Edgar N.: 165 años de prisión y multa de 863 mil 742 pesos por tres secuestros.
- Jaime N. y Adriana N.: 161 años de prisión y multa de 846 mil 672 pesos por tres secuestros.
- Bernardo N. y Ángel N.: 111 años de prisión y multa de 573 mil 552 pesos por dos secuestros.
- Jorge N. y Carlos N.: 61 años de prisión y multa de 300 mil 432 pesos por un secuestro.
- Rosario N.: 57 años de prisión y multa de 283 mil 362 pesos por dos secuestros.
[Publicidad]