Thread: AZ-Detectives: 2 Drop Houses Dismantled

10:11am | December 10, 2009




Detectives: 2 Drop Houses Dismantled
23 Freed; 6 Arrested On Human Smuggling Charges

Detectives with Illegal Immigration Prevention and Apprehension Co-op Teams said they dismantled two drop houses in the Phoenix area recently.

According to IIMPACT, investigators acting on a tip began trying to locate a Mexican national who was being held against his will at a drop house in the west Valley on Friday. By Sunday, the house was located at 5130 N. 68th Ave. in Glendale.

As a SWAT team from the Arizona Department of Public Safety approached the house, two men suspected of human smuggling tried to flee through the back yard, but were caught by IIMPACT investigators. Officials said another man was taken into custody in the driveway.

Officials identified the three men as Salvador Rodriquez, Edward Geraldo-Ramirez and Freddy Hernandez. All three have been charged with kidnapping, extortion, armed robbery, human smuggling and misconduct involving weapons.

Inside the home, eight undocumented immigrants were found. The victims said armed guards ordered them to line up and hand over their valuables and money before ordering them to remove their socks and shoes. Victims told investigators the three men would often point firearms at their heads as they spoke to family members being extorted for money. Their families' lives were also threatened.

Investigators located two AK-47 rifles, four handguns and cell phones used to make ransom demands inside the home, they said.

Investigators said windows in the bedroom where the captives were held had been fortified with plywood to stop them from escaping.

Another drop house investigation began on Nov. 17 when IIMPACT investigators received information that an out-of-state relative had paid almost $3,000 to human smugglers – also known as coyotes – to secure the release of a hostage from a west Valley drop house.

The drop house was located at 4151 W. Earll Drive on Nov. 20. As IIMPACT detectives approached, Santiago Bermudez-Gomez, Luis Quezada and Julio Camargo-Vasquez fled out the back door, authorities said.

Detectives said they located and charged the three with human smuggling.

Detectives also located 15 immigrants inside who had been held in a back room with wood fortifying a window and reverse deadbolts on the door.

A stolen Glock handgun and two cell phones were also recovered, detectives said.

http://www.kpho.com/news/21902408/detail.html

Oh so they arrested the human smugglers but don't mention what they'll do with the 28 IAs. Hmm.

They will probably be given work permits until they testify against the smugglers.