More than 2 dozen people found in west Phoenix drop house (KNXV-Phoenix)

More than 2 dozen people found in west Phoenix drop house

Reported by: Dave Biscobing
Reported by: Deborah Stocks
Last Update: 1/27 5:26 pm

Police raided a west Phoenix drop house Tuesday, discovering more than two dozen people packed inside the home.

A large team of officers descended on the residence near 69th Avenue and Thomas Road just before noon.

Several people were sitting, lined up along the street as officers investigated and conducted interviews.

Police said they learned of the drop house earlier in the morning.

They received a tip from a man who was released Monday from the drop house after his family paid several thousands dollars to get him out, Phoenix police spokesman Louis Samudio said.

Inside the house, there were between 25 to 30 people.

Police said it appears six of those individuals are tied to a human smuggling group

There appears to be no sign of serious injury, assault or sexual assault, police said.

However, more than half of the people inside the home were without shoes.

"Usually when they are kept at these homes for a period of time, (the coyotes) ask the people to take their shoes off, so it's more difficult to get away or escape," Samudio said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers were also at the scene.