2 Alien-Smuggler Suspects Picked Up by INS at LAX

Two suspected smugglers were arrested at Los Angeles International Airport as part of a continuing crackdown on the transporting of illegal aliens aboard commercial airliners, an Immigration and Naturalization Service spokesman said Saturday.

Also arrested late Friday and early Saturday at three domestic airline terminals were 35 immigrants, who were about to board 12 separate flights bound for New York, Atlanta, Chicago and Dallas.

Majority From Mexico

All but eight Salvadorans and four Guatemalans are from Mexico, said John Brechtel, assistant district director for investigations.

Nearly 300 illegal aliens have been arrested nationwide since the crackdown began Feb. 27.

Brechtel said charges of smuggling aliens are expected to be filed Monday against Erado Fernandez-Martinez, 26, of Buena Park and Jose Lomeli-Perez, 30, of Sonora, Mexico. A third man among those arrested at the airport was originally suspected of being a “coyote,” or smuggler, but evidence against him is “thin,” according to the spokesman.

He said it was not known if Fernandez-Martinez and Lomeli-Perez were working together.

Arraignment Tuesday

Information obtained so far suggests that these arrests are “unrelated” to the arrest last week of Jorge Guzman-Romero, who was also charged with smuggling, Brechtel said.

He said INS officials will seek to have the illegal aliens declared material witnesses against the suspected smugglers, who are scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday.

Immigration officials announced Friday that their investigation has expanded to include surveillance of several “drop houses,” which reportedly are becoming increasingly crowded as immigrants wait for the smugglers to arrange alternate modes of transportation.