Tipster leads MCSO to suspected drophouse in Tolleson
by Lisa Halverstadt - Jul. 6, 2009 12:29 PM

A call from a citizen led Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies to nearly 50 undocumented immigrants in Tolleson on Sunday afternoon.

Before noon, the tipster called to report that a van had dropped off 10 to 15 people in front of a home in the 8600 block of West Jocelyn Terrace, near 83rd Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road, said Detective Aaron Douglas, a sheriff's spokesman.

Within an hour, detectives from MCSO's Human Smuggling Unit arrived at the scene and began doing surveillance. They soon stopped a van that matched the description provided by the tipster.
The four men inside the vehicle were detained, Douglas said.

Detectives later knocked on the door of the home and after someone opened it, nine people ran outside a back door, the sheriff's spokesman said.

Deputies soon found 45 people inside the home.

None of them had obvious injuries, though some were treated for minor dehydration, Douglas said.

Few appeared to have proper identification, he said.

Deputies transported the group to the Human Smuggling Unit headquarters for interviews.

MCSO determined that all 49 of the people detained were undocumented immigrants, Douglas said. There were 33 men, 16 women, and one child. Five were booked on suspicion of human smuggling.

It was undetermined how long the group had been at the Tolleson home. Deputies searched the home Sunday night for weapons and other evidence that may remain inside, but it was not immediately clear what was seized, Douglas said.


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