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Arizona Interstate 17 Human Smuggling Corridor

Yavapai County Sheriff's Office Area Commands

Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Area Commands

Sedona AZ (May 21, 2013) – On May 20, 2013, just before 4:00 o’clock in the morning, a Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped a maroon passenger van on northbound Interstate 17, north of Arizona State Highway 260, for weaving between traffic lanes.

While speaking with the driver, 26-year-old Ricardo Albazan, the deputy saw at least nine persons in the passenger area of the van. Albazan only possessed a Mexican identification card and claimed he was driving to Denver, Colorado, and acknowledged that no one in the van had identification. Based on the YCSO deputy’s training and experience, the deputy formed an opinion that the driver was transporting illegal aliens to a U.S. destination.

The deputy contacted a representative of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by telephone who interviewed the detained passengers. The ICE agent determined Ricardo Albazan was involved in the human smuggling of nine undocumented aliens from Mexico. A jail van was called to assist with transportation of the illegal group to the Camp Verde Detention Center pending detainer authorizations from ICE. Before the jail van arrived, two of the subjects fled into the darkness.

Assisting law enforcement personnel searched the area but could not locate the escaped illegal aliens. The remaining eight were transported to the Camp Verde Detention Center to await transfer of custody to ICE.

Alabazan was found to have nearly $1400 on his person and was identified as the “coyote” in the smuggling operation. ICE agents will be handling prosecution regarding this charge.

Citizens can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with information or questions at 928-771-3260 or the YCSO website www.ycsoaz.gov.

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2 Comments

  1. Right below your article is this headline: https://sedonaeye.com/ycso-stops-van-driver-smuggling-illegal-aliens so I glanced at it after reading the other because the headlines seemed similar….and look what I found!!!

    Read this and see what I mean:

    Sedona AZ (January 15, 2013) – This morning at approximately 4:00 a.m., a Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office deputy stopped a maroon passenger van speeding on north Interstate 17, near Highway 169 exit, Camp Verde area. The van had been travelling 89 mph in a 65 mph zone. The driver provided only a Mexico identification card. While…

    Call me dumbfounded but I am wanting to know:

    How many 4 AM maroon passenger vans drivers do these smugglers employ? How many maroon passenger vans do they have – a whole fleet? Don’t these vehicles get impounded and then sold by police for being involved in homeland security illegal activities? Is there some Mexican border guard feigning sleep as vanloads of illegals drive across the border? These people haven’t crossed the Rio Grande puddle on foot, they’re driving over! Forgetting that the Mexican President said they’re happy to have these low income, mostly criminals off their books and our problem now, can’t Mexico pretend to try and stop them at the border???? How about whistling to the American border guards and pointing to the van with a “What can I do, it’s a plus for us but here’s another drain on the economy and resources for you!” shrug or high five???

  2. MATFORCE, in partnership with law enforcement, schools, the medical community and other community partners, has been working to reduce the prescription drug abuse epidemic in our community. Be a part of the solution and safely dispose of your medications at one of 10 locations in Yavapai County.

    * Prescott Police Department, 222 S. Marina
    * Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, 255 E. Gurley Street, Prescott
    * Prescott Valley Police Department, 7601 E. Civic Circle
    * Chino Valley Police Department, 1020 W. Palomino Rd
    * Sedona Police Department, 100 Roadrunner Drive
    * Cottonwood Police Department, 199 S. 6th Street
    * Clarkdale Police Department, 49 N. Ninth Street
    * Jerome Police Department, 305 Main Street
    * Camp Verde Marshal’s Office at 646 S. First Street
    * Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office, 2830 N Commonwealth Drive, Ste. 104, Camp Verde

    For more information on prescription drug abuse solutions visit http://www.matforce.org

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