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Iraqi-U.S. Smuggling Ring Busted in Peru
July 19, 2007 12:19 PM
A criminal ring attempting to smuggle Iraqis into the United States has been busted in Lima, Peru, U.S. law enforcement officials tell the Blotter on ABCNews.com.
At least 10 Iraqis have been arrested over the last month there, some as they prepared to board flights to Los Angeles.
U.S. officials said the Iraqis were found with stolen Dutch and German passports which had been altered.
Blotter FBI: Iraqis Being Smuggled Across the Rio Grande
"Peru has a growing problem," a U.S. official said. "It has become a center for people trying to enter the United States illegally."
Peruvian police became suspicious when it was determined that none of the Iraqis spoke Dutch or German.
Dutch and German citizens do not require visas to enter the United States.
U.S. officials say three Iraqis, two brothers and a sister, were arrested on June 21 at the Lima airport.
Seven others, including the alleged ringleader of the group, were arrested this week, Peruvian police Col. Roberto Lujan told the Associated Press in Lima.
The AP said it was not immediately clear whether those arrested were Iraqi Chaldean Christians who frequently try to enter the U.S., claiming they face persecution in Iraq. California is home to a sizable Chaldean community.
ABCNews.com reported earlier this week that the FBI had learned of another ring operating out of New Mexico that was smuggling Iraqis into the country across the Rio Grande River in New Mexico.
Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
July 19, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (23)
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I looked up the articles mentioned by Nem in the San Antonio Express News and by Todd Bensman and they do indeed make this report pale in comparison. People from Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and Lebanon coming in via Guatemala, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador by the thousands. But the difference is that the Peruvian authorities did something about cracking down on ring leaders rather than just demanding bribes or busting the travelers and letting the smugglers continue their lucrative business. As was mentioned, however, the really bad guys are bankrolled and can easily get in. Some do it legally, like the doctors in the recent plots over in the UK.
Posted by: brooks osgood | Jul 22, 2007 1:16:44 PM
all the 9-11 perpetrators entered the country legally. all the racist above crying about the horrible illegal immigrants are well, racist.
and isnt it wonderful how we destroyed iraq and turned it into a terrorist training ground and anarchic killing zone with 2 million+ leaving everything behind and fleeing for their lives? and even iraqis that have already been thoroughly vetted, like the many translators for the army and other people working for us cant even escape to the US. another one of many black marks against the worst, most incompetent, most immoral, most criminal administration ever.
Posted by: ron | Jul 23, 2007 11:20:55 PM
Ron-lets remember who is imoral!!!! Who was having oral sex in the whitehouse--Bill Clinton. Who is incompetent and didn't catch OBL 3 times--Bill Clinton. Who has 21 deaths of persons closley associeted with him-- Bill Clinton. Do your research prior to running your mouth.
Posted by: mccartney | Jul 25, 2007 3:12:13 AM
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