Police: Human smugglers abused 32 illegal immigrants (The Arizona Republic)

Police: Human smugglers abused 32 illegal immigrants

by Christopher Cash - Jun. 9, 2009 05:35 PM
The Arizona Republic

Police discover 32 undocumented immigrants who were held and apparently abused by nine suspected human smugglers at a Phoenix home Monday evening.

The group of 32, mostly men, but included women and at least one juvenile, police said.

Police responded to the 5900 block of West Indian School Road shortly after 5:15 p.m. Officials were alerted by an anonymous caller who said he was an illegal immigrant and had just paid his ransom from the house. As police arrived at the house, they could hear people inside banging on the windows and screaming to get the officers attention.

Most of the victims were held at the house for over a month and were barely given any food or water. The suspects had kicked many of the victims as they received extortion threats.

The identity of the suspected human smugglers discovered at the home have not yet been released. The suspects will be charged with human smuggling, misconduct involving weapons, kidnapping, armed robbery, aggravated assault, and extortion, according to a press release by the Department of Public Safety.

The windows of the home had been fortified by wood. A loaded pistol was recovered. The majority of the victims were from Central America, said Phoenix police Det. James Holmes.

IIMPACT, an Illegal Immigration Prevention Apprehension Co-op Team composed of Phoenix police, DPS, and ICE officials, was also called to the scene. All victims were turned over to Immigration Customs Enforcement.