Maricopa County deputies from the Human Smuggling Unit encountered two separate vehicles both suspected of human smuggling on two different sides of the county on the evening of February 7.
During the interviews with detectives, two suspects, Jiro Mendez-Parra and Hector Garcia-Guillen, Mexican Nationals, admitted to paying $2000.00 each to be smuggled into the United States, and had planned on staying in Arizona. The third suspect and coyote, Joaquin Campana is a U.S. citizen.
During the investigation, Sheriff’s detectives also learned that the two were going to be placed into the desert as spotters to assist other human and drug smuggling loads attempt to successfully travel north. Both had multiple cell phones, radios, batteries, and additional food and items to help survive in the desert for several days.
Later that night, near I-10 and Riggs Rd, Sheriff’s detectives attempted to stop a silver Ford focus for speeding, at which time three subject’s fled in a Southeastern direction into the desert. Detectives were able to immediately detain one female occupant and continued to search for the others but were unable to locate them.
Sheriff’s Detectives learned that Yolanda Jimenez-Carbajal, a Guerrero Mexico resident, had paid $2500.00 to be smuggled illegally into the United States, with a final destination of North Carolina.
All four suspects have been arrested and booked into the 4th Avenue Jail on Human Smuggling charges.
