INS Shuts Down Sophisticated Illegal-Alien Smuggling Ring

Immigration authorities said Friday they have closed down what they described as the area’s most elaborate illegal-alien smuggling ring.

Officials from the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service said the ring worked out of a home in the 3700 block of Chamoune Avenue and operated like a travel agency by either flying people east or driving them north to Los Angeles.

The INS arrested several people accused of being behind the ring late Thursday night.

Four people are being held at the Metropolitan Correctional Center on suspicion of alien smuggling. They are Miguel Alfredo Godinez-Guillen, his brother, Manuel Godinez-Guillen, his wife, Amelia Godinez-Guillen, and David Duenas.

Miguel Alfredo Godinez-Guillen is an amnesty applicant, and all four live in San Diego, said INS spokesman Rudy Murillo.

Eighteen undocumented workers were found in the house at the time of the arrests, Murillo said.

The ring operated with the help of recruiters in Tijuana, who found people interested in coming to the United States and willing to pay up front, Murillo said.

The ring offered two packages to choose from, either flying east to Kansas City, New York or Chicago, or being driven to the Los Angeles area.

The cheapest “super-saver” package to smuggle someone across the border cost $850 and included air fare for a flight out of Lindbergh Field, Murillo said.