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County attorney campaign targets drop houses
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The Maricopa County Attorney's Office says it will kick off a public awareness campaign next week to alert people to the problems associated with drop houses, where human smugglers stash illegal immigrants until they can be transported to their destinations.
Violent murders, kidnappings and extortion sometimes occur in drop houses, and County Attorney Andrew Thomas said he wants to teach people how to recognize and report drop houses in their neighborhood.
A series of public service announcements are planned to air on radio and television, and include a 24-hour number that rings at the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and an e-mail address for the county attorney's office.
Thomas is spending about $800,000 on the campaign, which he said is coming from RICO funds - money that has been seized in drug smuggling and other racketeering cases.
Thomas announced the program Friday at a news conference attended by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association, a police union and representatives from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
A news release issued by Thomas said there have been 359 kidnappings in Phoenix in the past year.
ICE officials said 163 drop houses were discovered in Phoenix, with 3,106 immigrants taken into custody.
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