Authorities find 16 people in Phoenix drop house

by Ofelia Madrid - Feb. 20, 2010 08:37 PM
The Arizona Republic

A cell phone call from a person being detained in a west Phoenix drop house to authorities helped Arizona Department of Public Safety find 13 people being held against their will.

DPS investigators took 16 undocumented immigrants, including three human smugglers, known as coyotes, into custody, said Lt. Stephen Harrison, a DPS spokesman.

The house, near 61st Avenue and McDowell Road, had the windows barricaded, Harrison said. Weapons were found in the home, he added.

None of the victims needed medical attention but they were hungry, Harrison said.

Investigators are still working to find out how long the victims had been held.

www.azcentral.com