ANTHEM, AZ --
Forty suspected undocumented immigrants were reportedly arrested within a four hour period in the North Valley Monday night.
During a human smuggling saturation patrol, Maricopa County Sheriff's federally trained deputies made the arrests during four separate traffic stops near Anthem Way, according to MCSO.
Sheriff Arpaio said his human smuggling deputies arrested 25 undocumented immigrants during the investigation on state felony human smuggling charges, which is a class four felony.
Those arrested last night on state human smuggling charges reportedly admitted to paying between $1,000 and $5,000 for illegal entry into the United States from Mexico.
MSCO said the remaining 15 undocumented immigrants arrested were processed by sheriff's deputies and turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Monday night's arrests reportedly bring the total booked under state felony human smuggling charges by sheriff's deputies to 1,637 since the law was enacted.
The same human smuggling
deputies arrested four Chinese undocumented immigrants originating from Beijing less than a week ago at the exact same location, according to the report.
MCSO said they also appeared to be using Mexican smugglers to gain illegal entry into the United States through Mexico.
