Federal agents and other law enforcement officials closed Stix Japanese eatery in Flowood on Friday and arrested eight people suspected of being illegal immigrants.



"All of the paperwork associated with that matter is under seal, so I officially have to say no comment," said John Dowdy, chief of the U.S. attorney's criminal division in Jackson.

Officials with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the principal agency involved in the sting, didn't offer many details.

"Six men and two women working at the restaurant were detained," said agency spokesman Temple Black.

He confirmed those arrested were suspected to be illegal immigrants, but did not know their country of origin. Black said the suspects would be interviewed and fingerprinted.

He would not elaborate further.

"We don't have very many details," he said.

For much of the morning and afternoon Friday, officers from multiple agencies could be seen carrying clear bags of money from the dining room to unmarked vehicles. The restaurant's parking lot was blockaded and customers were turned away without explanation.

A ninth person was arrested hours later and was hauled away in a Jackson police squad car.

Police spokesman Sgt. Jeffrey Scott did not have any information about the arrest and could not explain why JPD was involved in the arrest in Flowood. Flowood police and Rankin County sheriff's personnel assisted at the scene but wouldn't comment.

Calls to the restaurant seeking comment were unsuccessful.

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