A Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Human Smuggling Unit (HSU) investigation has led to the arrest of 10 suspects three of whom were minors traveling through Arizona. The Human Smuggling Unit (HSU) booked six into the 4th Avenue jail.
The remaining four were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents.
HSU detectives determined through the course of their investigation an 11 year old minor was unaccompanied and not related to the adults in the vehicle. All of the suspects claimed to be Mexican Nationals.
Detectives learned during last night’s investigation that the suspects had paid up to $4,000 to be illegally smuggled in the U.S. The destinations of the suspects were to be New York and Georgia.
“In the last month my office has arrested 56 border violators,” said Sheriff Joe Arapio. “It seems like the debate surrounding immigration reform in Washington is emboldening these human smugglers and their clients even to the point where unaccompanied minors are making the dangerous trip across the border.”
