Working in conjunction with a Spanish translator in the Maricopa County Sheriff’s 911 call center, Sheriff’s deputies were notified of the problem at 6:45 a.m. They responded to the area near the Gunnery range and within three hours, deputies had located all members of the group.
The Maricopa County Sheriff said of the guides, “Sadly, human smuggling operations very often are conducted by people interested only in one thing –money and not the welfare of those they are smuggling.”
According to Sheriff Arpaio, all six men were fortunate as they were in relatively good condition complaining only of extreme hunger and thirst. Deputies drove all six to the nearest convenience store at their request and then contacted Border Patrol to notify them of the situation. The Sheriff’s call was cleared when Border Patrol officers met up with the group as they were being dropped off by deputies.