34 Illegals Found in Phoenix Drophouse

PHOENIX - Authorities have busted up a Phoenix drop house where they found 34 illegal immigrants and nine suspected smugglers Monday.

Department of Public Safety Officer Robert Bailey says authorities were notified of the west Phoenix drop house by a citizen who paid a ransom to get a family member released from the house.

He says many of the Mexican immigrants were held in the house for up to 30 days, and that some of them reported being beaten as the smugglers demanded more money for their release.

He says two boys, ages 13 and 15, and a woman who was two months pregnant were among those being held. No one needed medical treatment.

Bailey says the smugglers were arrested, while the immigrants were to be turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Bailey says this is the third major bust of a drop house in Phoenix since Friday.