Traffic stop leads to arrest of 11 undocumented immigrants

Lily Leung
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 9, 2007 12:21 PM

A traffic stop near Wickenburg that was part of a human-smuggling investigation early Friday morning led Sheriff's deputies to the arrests of 11 undocumented immigrants, one of whom is a suspected smuggler,, authorities said.

This human-smuggling bust has brought the total number of undocumented immigrants arrested to 1,155, said Paul Chagolla, spokesman for the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.

The Illegal Immigration Interdiction Unit, also known as Triple I, stopped a Nissan sports utility vehicle operated by Holver De Leon-Gramajo, a suspected smuggler who was reportedly transporting 10 undocumented immigrants to California, Chagolla said.

Chagolla said De Leon admitted to being paid $50 for each person in his SUV.

The Sheriff's Office said it is the only Arizona law enforcement agency arresting undocumented immigrants under all aspects of the state and federal immigration laws.

In the past month, the Sheriff's office has also found a string of West Valley drop houses in cities, such as Surprise, El Mirage and Glendale.

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