Van companies accused of immigrant-smuggling

PHOENIX (AP) — The illegal immigrants being sneaked into the country were allegedly given phony $30 tickets and receipts for a van ride. And they were warned that if the van got pulled over by police, they should show the receipt.

Federal investigators Thursday raided five shuttle-van services in Tucson and Phoenix

and accused them of knowingly helping to smuggle tens of thousands of illegal immigrants into the U.S. over four years. A total of 49 van operators and alleged smugglers from Mexico and the U.S. were arrested.

The raids exposed a piece of what authorities say is a network of seemingly legitimate businesses

that sneak people across the Mexican border.

full text: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/04/16/van-companies-accused-immigrant-smuggling/

[submitted by: Denise Chan]