Posted on 10/31/2003 12:54:43 PM PST by SandRat
BISBEE -- Cochise County remains the number one area for illegal immigrants to enter the United States with more than 58 percent of those apprehended in the first 30 days of the new federal fiscal year in the Tucson Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol occurring in the county.
In the first 30 days of October 25,806 illegal immigrants have been apprehended in the Tucson Sector, an area that includes most of Arizona, except for the far western counties, sector spokesman Andy Adame said this morning. Of that number 15,143 were taken into custody by agents in Cochise County, he added.
Dents are being made in the smuggling process with five illegal immigrants being charged with felony alien smuggling after a fake Channel 12 News vehicle, pickup truck and an Oldsmobile sedan were stopped over a two day period this week, Adame said.
Acting on a tip agents from the Naco Station arrested five illegal immigrants being transported in the fake TV vehicle, which was a 1995 Ford Explorer, on Tuesday, he said.
"It looked just like a Channel 12 vehicle," Adame said. Channel 12 is a Phoenix TV station.
Initially agents were informed that suspected illegal immigrants were living in a Naco, Ariz., house, he said.
The tipster said there were two vehicles outside the residence, the other being a red Isuzu pickup and agents watched 10 illegal immigrants get into the two vehicles, he said.
The vehicles were stopped and the illegal immigrants apprehended, the spokesman said.
The female driver of the Ford and the male driver of the Isuzu, both of whom were illegal immigrants themselves, were charged with smuggling, he said.
Information gathered from the Tuesday case led to agents stopping a gray Oldsmobile sedan on Wednesday as it was leaving a house in Bisbee, Adame said.
Inside the vehicle were four passengers and the driver an all were illegal immigrants, he said.
Based on information the apprehended people provided agents obtained permission to search the residence and found five more illegal immigrants inside, Adame said.
Three people were arrested in the Wednesday incident and charged with conspiracy to transport and harbor illegal aliens, he said.
Some of the apprehended people are being held as material witnesses to testify against the individuals who have been charged, Adame said.
Of the 25,806 illegal immigrants apprehended in the U.S. Border Patrol's Tucson Sector the first 30 days of October, more than 58 percent were taken into custody in Cochise County.
Following are the number of apprehensions agents from the three stations in the county took into custody:
Naco -- 9,104.
Douglas -- 5,402.
Willcox -- 637.
Total apprehensions in the county is 15,143.
Source: Andy Adame, spokesman for the Tucson Sector.
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