Police detain 14 alleged illegal aliens
May 9, 2007
By JOHN HENSON/Staff Writer
Fourteen suspected illegal aliens were discovered aboard a van stopped for speeding by the Maury County Sheriff’s narcotics and vice unit about 4 p.m. Tuesday, Capt. Nathan Johns said.

The 12 men and two women are being held at the Maury County Jail until they can be processed by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement division of the Department of Homeland Security and taken into federal custody, Johns said.

Maury County Sheriff’s Department Drug and Vice unit detained 13 men and two women about 4 p.m. Tuesday. The people were traveling inside a van owned by Wendy’s Transportation Company. When the van was pulled over for speeding on North James Campbell Boulevard, deputies found the group. Lt. Bill Doelle said the people were headed for Michigan, Chicago and Ohio. Staff photo by John Henson

“Agents from an office in Nashville determined the passengers in the van are in the country illegally,” he said.

The occupants of the van were asked to sit on the grass outside Baker’s Properties on North James Campbell Boulevard until federal agents arrived.

The detainees have not been charged with any local crimes, Johns said.

Narcotics and Vice Lt. Bill Doelle said his officers routinely look for speeders on county roads.

“We often stop people for speeding and then later find other things,” Doelle said.

There were no illegal drugs or other contraband in the van, Doelle said.

Narcotics and vice vehicles don’t look like customary police cars. One of the vehicles in use is a gray Nissan Xterra; the other is a black Ford Explorer.

The people in the van had a list of places they wanted to go, Doelle said.

“They had a list to go to Michigan, Chicago and Ohio,” he said. “The driver was going to drop people off as he went.”

Johns said the driver was a naturalized citizen of the U.S.

“He has been cited into court for speeding and was released,” Johns said.

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