Thread: "Huge" bust in PHX net 500+ aliens $5 mil in cash

This story is huge, but being downplayed in Phoenix media. The AZ Republic still only has a one paragraph blub on this at 8 p.m.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=65232

Giant human smuggling ring broken up
By Ray Stern, Tribune
May 10, 2006
A major task force investigation has resulted in the arrests of 62 suspected human smugglers, hundreds of illegal immigrants and millions of dollars in cash and real estate, authorities said Wednesday.

The financial crimes task force comprised of Phoenix police, the Arizona Department of Public Safety, federal Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and state Attorney General's office announced the arrests and seizures at a news conference at Phoenix police headquarters.

“Today, we've got results,” Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon said.

Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris said besides the suspected smugglers, police located 528 undocumented immigrants and seized 11 weapons, 62 vehicles, six real estate locations valued at $1.7 million, $4.8 million in cash, five kilograms of cocaine and about three pounds of marijuana.

The task force efforts will make a significant impact on drug and immigrant smuggling activities in the Valley, Harris said.

The bust focused on multiple “coyote groups” of varying sizes, including some “mom and pop” organizations that dabble in both illegal drugs and immigrant smuggling, said Glen Gardner, commander of the drug enforcement bureau for Phoenix police, who supervised a portion of the financial investigation.

The larger organizations will be the focus of further investigations, he said

Well, this is a great story....why wouldn't they make huge news of it since it is huge news???

I'm posting this on another forum.

Look at all that money.....!!

This is an outrage! This should be NATIONAL news --- and the top of the news at that...

On National news my foot; we only have Lou.

9 p.m. local time now. I just scanned the rest of my Phoenix new sites, 2 TV stations and still hardly anything on this. Even the official AP story is so short. Phoenix media aught to be ashamed of themselves for not widely reporting this story.

I'm afraid this is going to get buried like the Mexican guy who tried to bring down the jet by opening the door in flight. I check every couple of days to see if there's anything new on this and there hasn't been a word about it since his indictment at the end of April.

Mass media really stinks.

http://today.reuters.com/News/newsArtic ... GGLING.xml

Raid nets 62 accused immigrant smugglers
Wed May 10, 2006 7:37pm ET

PHOENIX (Reuters) - Phoenix authorities on Wednesday announced the arrest of 62 people it accused of being human smugglers and said they detained 528 illegal immigrants after a two-month operation.

Police, customs and immigration enforcement agents also seized 62 vehicles, $4.8 million in cash, 11 weapons, 5 kg of cocaine and $1.8 million in property in the crackdown along the Arizona border -- the biggest U.S. entry point for illegal immigrants coming across the Mexican border.

"We are using every means in our capacity to make sure we locate and then take down those leaders that are making human smuggling possible across the border," Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard said at a news conference.

"I believe if we are going to cut off this poison, we are going to do it by making it unprofitable to be engaged in human suffering," he said.

Authorities said they had invaded several drop houses used by human smugglers, known as "coyote groups." Those arrested ranged from members of small-time organizations to operators of criminal syndicates who make money bringing mostly Mexican immigrants across the desert.

Arizona, which recorded more than half the 1.2 million arrests made last fiscal year in the United States along the frontier, last year passed a state law that makes human smuggling a state crime.

The Arizona operation comes amid a divisive debate in the United States over how to secure its borders and deal with the nation's estimated 12 million illegal immigrants.

Hundreds of thousands of immigrants marched in U.S. cities and boycotted school and work on May 1 to press demands for reforms that would give them a path to citizenship.

"Until the federal government does its job and secures our borders, this is the best way the city of Phoenix can make an impact on illegal immigration -- from the top down by cutting off the head of the monster," said Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon.

Republican legislators in Arizona have proposed one of the toughest state anti-immigrant packages including the deployment of National Guard troops to the border with Mexico and the use of radar to track anyone trying to sneak across.

Republican legislators in Arizona have proposed one of the toughest state anti-immigrant packages including the deployment of National Guard troops to the border with Mexico and the use of radar to track anyone trying to sneak across.

Now if California and other states would follow Arizona's lead we might get somewhere. I'am sick of everybody saying it's not our problem, it's a federal problem.

IT"S EVERYBODY'S PROBLEM

Arizona is putting up a good fight. Three cheers to sheriff Joe Arpaio of Maricopa County, a no nonensense guy. Check out his website. I sent him a pat on the back e-mail.