43 Aliens Found in House; 2 Men Held as Smugglers
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Deputies discovered 43 illegal immigrants crowded inside a Willowbrook residence early Thursday and arrested two men on suspicion of smuggling human beings, authorities said.
Lynwood sheriff’s deputies investigating a report of a disturbance in the 2500 block of East 110th Street made the discovery about 6:15 a.m., Deputy George Ducoulombier said.
Adrian Calderon, 40, of El Salvador, and Avelardo Sanchez, 33, of Mexico, were arrested on suspicion of unlawful transportation of illegal immigrants, Ducoulombier said. Authorities believe the operation was part of a larger smuggling ring.
No weapons were found in the house, but Ducoulombier said authorities are trying to learn whether the two men were forcibly detaining the aliens until relatives could pay for their release.
The illegal immigrants were being detained for the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
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