PRESS RELEASES
Arizona Department of Public Safety Officer makes a traffic stop and discovers 97 undocumented aliens inside of a refrigerated commercial trailer
Thursday, July 30, 2009 -
On July 29, 2009, at approximately 9:00 p.m., an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) Officer stopped a commercial vehicle for an equipment violation after receiving a tip provided by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol. The stop was made on Interstate 19 at kilometer 24 north of Nogales, Arizona.
After the driver was taken into custody for a misdemeanor warrant, the officer discovered 97 undocumented aliens, including adults and children, in the trailer which was being kept at 34 degrees. The children ranged in age from 9 to 12. Also in the trailer was a load of produce.
U.S. Border Patrol and ICE responded and took control of the truck/trailer and custody of the undocumented aliens.
The smuggled aliens from Mexico and Guatemala found inside the trailer were transported to the Nogales Border Patrol station to be interviewed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents. All of the aliens will be processed for return to their native countries. ICE has opened a formal criminal investigation into the smuggling scheme and is coordinating closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the case.
“This is another great example of the cooperation and ability to work together that exists in Arizona between State, local and Federal law enforcement. We can do a lot more than one agency working by itself. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate our Officer for an excellent job,” said Roger Vanderpool, director of DPS.
“This is yet another frightening example of the callous disregard human smugglers have for those who entrust their lives to them,” said Matthew Allen, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Arizona. “These people were treated like cargo. They were crammed inside this truck and subjected to near freezing temperatures. Fortunately, due to the swift action of the law enforcement agencies involved in this case, none of these people came to any harm.”
After the driver was taken into custody for a misdemeanor warrant, the officer discovered 97 undocumented aliens, including adults and children, in the trailer which was being kept at 34 degrees. The children ranged in age from 9 to 12. Also in the trailer was a load of produce.
U.S. Border Patrol and ICE responded and took control of the truck/trailer and custody of the undocumented aliens.
The smuggled aliens from Mexico and Guatemala found inside the trailer were transported to the Nogales Border Patrol station to be interviewed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol agents. All of the aliens will be processed for return to their native countries. ICE has opened a formal criminal investigation into the smuggling scheme and is coordinating closely with the U.S. Attorney’s Office on the case.
“This is another great example of the cooperation and ability to work together that exists in Arizona between State, local and Federal law enforcement. We can do a lot more than one agency working by itself. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate our Officer for an excellent job,” said Roger Vanderpool, director of DPS.
“This is yet another frightening example of the callous disregard human smugglers have for those who entrust their lives to them,” said Matthew Allen, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Arizona. “These people were treated like cargo. They were crammed inside this truck and subjected to near freezing temperatures. Fortunately, due to the swift action of the law enforcement agencies involved in this case, none of these people came to any harm.”
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