Police find 23 people in suspected drophouse in West Valley (Arizona Republic)

Police find 23 people in suspected drophouse in West Valley

by Ofelia Madrid - Mar. 8, 2009 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic

Authorities discovered a drop house with nearly two dozen illegal immigrants in a West Valley neighborhood Saturday, the Arizoan Department of Public Safety said.

IIMPACT detectives received a call about 3 p.m. Friday from a person who said a family member was being beaten, held for ransom and would be killed if they didn't respond, DPS spokesman Lt. James Warriner said.

IIMPACT, or Illegal Immigration Prevention & Apprehension Co-op Team, is comprised of members of DPS, Phoenix police and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

A SWAT team entered the home near 107th Ave. and Encanto Boulevard about noon and found 23 individuals, including five who were believed to be kidnapping suspects. There were no children found in the house, but a woman and man were taken to a local hospital as a precaution, Warriner said.

The 18 victims are believed to have been in the house without food and very limited water for up to nine days, Warriner said.

All 23 people were taken to a holding facility and eventually turned over to ICE, Warriner said. The five suspected kidnappers will face charges that could include kidnapping, assault and extortion, Warriner said.