2 Face Federal Smuggling Charges in Arizona

Updated: Tuesday, 01 Feb 2011, 10:28 AM MST
Published : Tuesday, 01 Feb 2011, 10:27 AM MST

PHOENIX - Two men from Mexico have had their initial appearance in federal court in Phoenix on human smuggling charges.

The two, 23-year-old Edgar Meza-Bustamante and 34-year-old Cruz Gerardo Meza-Tirado, appeared in court Monday.

They were arrested Friday after Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents discovered a drop house in Phoenix and detained 53 suspected illegal immigrants.

Federal agents say several people tried to flee through the back door after they knocked on the front door Friday.

Immigration officials say most of those at the house were men, but they also detained seven women and six boys.

They say those in the house were from Mexico, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

The immigration agency had been tipped off about the drop house by the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/dpp/news/im ... x-02012011