Suspects arrested near Wickenburg

Sept 5, 2007



Acting on a tip last week from the newly implemented illegal immigration hotline by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, deputies assigned to detect human smuggling stopped two vehicles for speeding in the Wickenburg area, resulting the in the arrests of 12 more illegal aliens.

The 12 were arrested by sheriff’s deputies under the relatively new Arizona state felony human smuggling law. In a Ford Explorer, a smuggler and five co-conspirators were arrested, and in a Ford F-150 pickup truck, a second smuggler and five co-conspirators arrested.



Through investigation it was determined that the smugglers and their human cargo were part of the same smuggling operations. The majority of the group entered near the Aqua Prieta port of entry, and paid between $300 and $11,900 each to reach destinations including California, Nevada, Virginia, New York and New Jersey.

The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) continues to be the only Arizona law enforcement agency enforcing all aspects of the Arizona anti-smuggling law. To date, sheriff’s deputies have made 652 arrests under this law, all class four felony violations.

The success of the sheriff’s office has garnered the support of many in Arizona, and across the nation. A recent Cronkite-Eight Poll announced that Arizonans support Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s hotline. The statewide poll concluded 53 percent support the illegal immigration hotline and 35 percent oppose it, with the remaining undecided.

All 12 suspects were booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail on felony charges, including human smuggling and conspiracy to commit human smuggling.

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