Another drop house found in west Phoenix (Arizona Republic)

Another drop house found in west Phoenix

Lindsey Collom
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 14, 2008 05:46 PM

Phoenix police say they found a drop house in west Phoenix while responding to a suspicious persons call Friday.

Officers arriving to the scene found several people trying to push out of a window on the side of the home. Inside were 16 suspected illegal immigrants, some of whom were believed to be coyotes.

Sgt. Andy Hill, a Phoenix police spokesman, said police found a handgun and cash while searching the property in the 3600 block of North 90th Drive.

Hill said that police were trying to identify the coyotes and that the others would be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

The incident was the latest in a rash of recent drop house busts in the Valley. In the past two weeks alone, more than 700 undocumented immigrants have been arrested across Arizona, according to ICE officials.

Hill said he doesn't think there's been an increase in the number of drop houses. Instead, he said more residents are recognizing the signs and reporting possible drop houses to police.