A dozen illegal immigrants have been busted near Wickenberg based on a tip to the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office's illegal immigrant hotline.

"The tip that came into the hotline - I'm not able to get into the specifics of it - but it mentioned that there was a smuggling operation that was operating up in that area," said Capt. Paul Chagolla with the Sheriff's Office.

Chagolla said the majority of the group entered near the Agua Prieta port of entry, and paid between $300 and $11,900 each to reach destinations including California, Nevada, Virginia, New York and New Jersey.

"It was an unusual amount,"Chagolla said. "This is one of the largest amounts that we've seen as having been agreed to pay by the co-conspirators."

All 12 suspects were booked into the Fourth Avenue Jail on felony charges, including human smuggling and conspiracy to commit human smuggling.

The group includes two smugglers.