Child among 38 in custody after drophouse raid

Child among 38 in custody after drophouse raid
Maxine Park
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 7, 2008 04:36 PM

Phoenix police have taken 38 people, including a 5-year-old child, into custody as suspected illegal immigrants after raiding an apparent house Friday.

Authorities received a request for a welfare check early Friday at a house near 13th Avenue and Roosevelt Street. Police said that officers entered the residence and found 37 adults and one child living in two bedrooms of the home.

Six individuals identified as suspected "coyotes" were taken into custody and questioned. Officers said that the coyotes were using plastic guns, which the immigrants believed to be real.

Officials said that several of the immigrants were also stripped down to their underwear as a form of intimidation.

Apparently, the immigrants had been at the house for a few days and were most likely transported from another location in the Valley. Officials are not certain where the immigrants were headed or how much they may have paid in order to get here.

All of the 38 suspected undocumented immigrants have been turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

There was no word on whether the six coyotes would be charged in connection with human smuggling.