INS BREAKS UP CENTRAL AMERICAN SMUGGLING RING
Operation Figaro, an undercover INS investigation into immigrant smuggling in Central America, has resulted in indictments of 17 people, 10 of whom have already been arrested. The smuggling ring is suspected of having sneaked thousands of people into the U.S., for prices as high as $9000.
Officials say the smugglers charged half of the fee up front, and the rest when the trip to the U.S. was completed. Once in the U.S., the smugglers hid the aliens in a "safe-house" in Phoenix, where living conditions were often atrocious. The smugglers would not release the person until the entire fee was paid. The investigation revealed that more than $500,000 passed through the operation since 1996.
INS officials feel Operation Figaro has been a complete success, not only for the 17 indictments, but also for all they have learned about the methods of immigrant smuggling rings. This knowledge should be useful in future investigations, and increase INS success in its investigations of smuggling rings.
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