Thread: AZ: 22 people taken into custody at suspected immigrant drop

http://kvoa.com/Global/story.asp?S=6007395
Jan 29, 2007
22 people taken into custody at suspected immigrant drophouse

PHOENIX -- Nearly two dozen people believed to be illegal immigrants, including a pregnant woman, were taken into custody Monday evening after an assault victim led authorities to a suspected drophouse.


At least one of the 22 people taken from the home was a suspected smuggler of the immigrants, said Sgt. Andy Hill, a Phoenix police spokesman.

Hill said police responded to a 911 call Monday afternoon that a man was beaten by three other men who then fled in a truck.

The victim later led police to the nearby drophouse and said there were a number of people inside including two men with weapons, according to Hill.

Police units surrounded the west Phoenix home and got all the people out safely but did not find any weapons other than a pit bull inside, Hill said.

There were no injuries and authorities were interviewing all of the people taken from the drophouse to determine if there was more than one smuggler.

Hill said one of the 22 people was a pregnant woman but he could not immediately provide names, ages or hometowns of the suspected illegal immigrants.

The Phoenix metropolitan area is considered the hub for human-smuggling operations.

Federal officials say an estimated 3,000 illegal immigrants enter the state daily. They are guided across the border, driven to the Phoenix area and held in drophouses until coyote fees are paid.

Let's hope they get that pregnant woman back to Mexico before she drops an anchor. We don't need any more Elvira's.

Originally Posted by Cindy

Let's hope they get that pregnant woman back to Mexico before she drops an anchor. We don't need any more Elvira's.

Exactly.