Operation River Walker, 2008
- One of the largest human smuggling take-downs in Arizona history
- 48 indicted for smuggling 8,000 undocumented immigrants per year across border to Phoenix drop houses
- 13 drop houses seized, 20 arrested, 210 undocumented immigrants turned over to ICE
- Defendants made $130,000 weekly transporting up to 60 people per day
- Organization believed to have been active for nearly 10 years
- Used specialized “sub-contractors” to facilitate transport along route including “walkers” to take immigrants across San Pedro River, drop house operators, bank account holders, and load drivers
- Seven-month investigation conducted by the Financial Crimes Task Force
