Deputies arrested 31 suspected undocumented immigrants on Interstate 17 within a two day period, according to a Wednesday report.
Yavapai County Sheriff's Office deputies made the first arrests during a traffic stop on July 30th, north of Camp Verde.
A deputy noticed a white Chevy Astro swerving within a lane and appearing to be overloaded as it sat low on its rear suspension.
When the vehicle was pulled over, the deputy noticed 15 passengers in the back of the vehicle including a female lying on the floor between the front seats.
Arturo Rodriguez-Tellez, 34, was driving the vehicle and showed the deputy a Mexican Chauffer license.
The deputy determined Rodriguez-Tellez and the passengers were in the country illegally.
Immigrations and Customs Enforcement conducted phone interviews of the subjects, and verified their undocumented status.
All were transported in two YCSO detention vans to the Camp Verde Detention center.
One of the detention vehicles used to transport the suspects was driven by a member of the Volunteer in Protection program.
Officials say these volunteers provide critical manpower needed to allow deputies to remain in the field and expedite the transportation and processing of prisoners.
Another deputy noticed a silver Ford Focus traveling with the Chevy Astro Van.
A traffic stop was conducted and six additional undocumented immigrants were discovered and transported to the Camp Verde Detention Center.
On July 31st, a deputy pulled over a black Ford Expedition on the I-17 north of Camp Verde.
Ten undocumented immigrants were also discovered inside this vehicle.
ICE was contacted and verified all the occupants were in the county illegally.
An ICE transport vehicle arrived to take custody of the group pending deportation proceedings.
Officials say this human smuggling activity might be the result of law enforcement action involving drop houses recently discovered in Mesa and Phoenix in July.
Officials also believe human smugglers likely decided to move their human cargo quickly out of urban areas.
