Hotline tip leads authorities to Glendale drophouse

Lily Leung
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 22, 2007 02:54 PM
A smuggling suspect and seven other undocumented immigrants were arrested earlier this morning at a drophouse in Glendale, authorities said.

A controversial immigration hotline recently implemented by Sheriff Joe Arpaio led Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies to the drophouse, located at 7300 block of West Montebello Ave., deputies said.

It was the second drophouse located in the Northwest Valley in the past week.

The latest incident comes on the heels of a homicide involving an undocumented immigrant who was found beaten and shot on Aug. 18 in a drophouse at 13000 of West Cherry Hills in El Mirage, deputies said. Four other undocumented immigrants were arrested at that time and location.

The homicide investigation is continuing.

Deputies said the smuggling suspect found in Glendale today was booked on numerous felony counts, including kidnapping. The seven remaining undocumented immigrants were en route to different locations, including California, New York, New Jersey and Tennessee.

Before crossing the border near Altar, Mexico, the immigrants reported, they each paid the smuggler from $2,000 to $2,600, authorities said.

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