Suspected illegal immigrants found hiding in truck in Chandler
by Shannon O'Connor - Apr. 2, 2010 06:43 AM


Two traffic stops along Interstate 10 Friday morning led to the discovery of more than 25 suspected illegal immigrants, authorities said.

At about 6:30 a.m., a Department of Public Safety officer attempted to pull over a pickup on I-10 near Ray Road, but the vehicle refused to yield. It continued to Chandler Boulevard, where it exited, with the driver heading the wrong way on a dirt road beside the freeway on ramp, DPS spokesman Bart Graves said.


The driver and passenger of the truck fled but were located and detained. Officers found another 12 people hidden beneath plywood panels in the back of the truck.

About an hour earlier, DPS officers pulled a vehicle over near I-10 and Baseline Road, Graves said.

About 15 to 20 people fled from the vehicle and were located and detained nearby at Arizona Mills Mall.

The driver of each vehicle will face human smuggling charges Graves said. The other suspects will be handed to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

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