Steep decline in ‘drop houses’ used by human smugglers

Source: tucsonsentinel.com

WASHINGTON – Police seizures of drop houses, where smugglers stash
undocumented aliens en route to other parts of the country, have
plummeted in Arizona this year, continuing a trend that began in 2008.

Through July 17, the Arizona Department of Public Safety's Illegal
Immigration Prevention and Apprehension Co-Op Teams (IIMPACT)
reported seizing only one drop house. That compares to 18 last year
and 49 in 2008, a year after the task force began operation.

While not as steep as the IIMPACT drop, federal officials also
reported a decline in drop houses uncovered in the Phoenix area.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it had found 30
drop houses in the area by June 27. That would put it on pace for
about 40 by Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year, compared to
51 in fiscal 2011 and 186 in 2008.




Read more: http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/080912_drop_house_decline/steep-decline-drop-houses-used-by-human-smugglers/