MCSO arrests 25 illegal immigrants involved in smuggling

by KTAR Newsroom
October 27th, 2011 @ 7:25pm

The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office Human Smuggling Unit arrested 25 illegal immigrants with connections to smuggling operations, MCSO said in a press release.

The arrests were made on Wednesday and Thursday.

The illegal immigrants paid human smugglers, or "coyotes", between $200 to $3,200 per person to be brought into the United States. Most of the people had final destinations on the East Coast, but two were headed to Phoenix.

Two of the illegal immigrants were left in the desert by their coyote and were fending for themselves. Another was transported to a local hospital to be treated for a serious foot injury.

"This continued level of activity is contrary to recent claims from several federal officials who suggest that there has been a large reduction in drug and human trafficking at the US-Mexican border," Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said in the press release.

A majority of those arrested have been booked into county jail.

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