Tip leads to four smugglers, 11 illegals in west Phoenix home
June 13th, 2008 @ 5:40am
by Jim Cross/KTAR

Fifteen people, including four smugglers, are in custody after a raid at a west Phoenix home.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents launched an investigation after a tip from the wife of one of the illegal immigrants being held at the home.

She said he had contacted a human smugglers' group in Mexico on June 2 and paid $1,500 to be brought across the border to Phoenix. The original smugglers' group allegedly sold him and a number of other illegal aliens to a second group, which held them in a house, near Indian School Road and 49th Avenue.

On Wednesday, the husband was told to call his wife and tell her the new organization was demanding an additional $3,500. She contacted authorities.

ICE, the Arizona Department of Public Safety and Phoenix Police raided the home and found 11 illegal immigrants locked in a bedroom at the house. Their shoes had been taken to prevent them from trying to escape. Weapons, including a shotgun and a handgun, were found inside the house.

The four human smugglers were booked into jail on suspicion of kidnapping, extortion and misconduct involving weapons.

The 11 illegal immigrants found in the home will be deported.




http://ktar.com/?nid=6&sid=866145