More than 30 detained after human smuggling investigation in Phoenix

PHOENIX — More than 30 people were detained Tuesday after federal agents responded to suspected human smuggling activity at a house in Phoenix.

Lauren Mack, a spokeswoman with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, said in a statement that the individuals were detained on “immigration administrative charges in conjunction with the investigation.”

The 34 immigrants taken into custody included 27 Guatemalans, five Mexicans and 2 Hondurans, according to a statement from the agency. They were processed for removal from the United States.

Mack said federal agents with the department’s Homeland Security Investigations in Phoenix responded to reports of suspected human smuggling at a home near 13th Place and Broadway Road.

Citing an ongoing investigation, Mack said she was unable to provide additional information.

She later told The Associated Press that the agency was acting on a tip when they found the immigrants.

“We responded to a tip that basically informed us there was a local residence that contained a large group of suspected undocumented immigrants,” Mack said. “They dismantled a drop house.”

Human traffickers typically use drop houses to temporarily house immigrants who have been smuggled into the country while “waiting for transportation to another or a pickup or payment made to a smuggler,” Mack said.

There was no information immediately available on how long the immigrants had been in the home, Mack said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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