CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -Venezuela's justice minister says the mother of former major league pitcher Victor Zambrano has been rescued.

Tareck El Aissami says federal police rescued an unharmed Elizabeth Mendez Zambrano on Tuesday in the central state of Aragua. He says three people have been detained.

El Aissami did not provide any further details.

Elizabeth Mendez Zambrano was abducted Sunday morning at her son's farm. Police said seven armed men kidnapped her because they didn't find large amounts of cash and jewelry as expected.

Zambrano's mother was kidnapped nine days after his cousin, Richard Mendez Zambrano, was kidnapped and later killed. It's not clear whether the incidents were related.

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