HUMAN SMUGGLING RING BUSTED FEDS ARREST 11 SUSPECTS IN OXNARD-BASED OPERATION.Byline: ERIC LEACH Staff Writer OXNARD -- Federal agents arrested 11 people suspected of running an Oxnard-based operation that illegally smuggled smug·gle v. smug·gled, smug·gling, smug·gles v.tr. 1. To import or export without paying lawful customs charges or duties. 2. To bring in or take out illicitly or by stealth. hundreds of immigrants -- including infants -- into the U.S. from Mexico, officials announced Friday. The suspects include five people arrested Thursday during a raid on a mobile home park in Oxnard, where authorities said they rescued a 9- month-old girl who was being held by the smugglers attempting to collect money from her mother. ``With these arrests we have dismantled a criminal organization responsible for smuggling smuggling, illegal transport across state or national boundaries of goods or persons liable to customs or to prohibition. Smuggling has been carried on in nearly all nations and has occasionally been adopted as an instrument of national policy, as by Great Britain a significant number of aliens into the southwestern United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. ,'' said David Wales Wales, Welsh Cymru, western peninsula and political division (principality) of Great Britain (1991 pop. 2,798,200), 8,016 sq mi (20,761 sq km), west of England; politically united with England since 1536. The capital is Cardiff. , resident agent in charge of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is the largest investigative arm of the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and is responsible for identifying and dismantling vulnerabilities regarding the nation's border, economic, transportation and infrastructure office in Ventura County. The 11 suspects were charged with bringing illegal immigrants into the United States, transporting illegal immigrants, harboring illegal immigrants and conspiracy. Virginia Kice, a spokeswoman for ICE, said illegal immigrants who come to the United States for work frequently leave their children behind, sending for them later. ``Recently, we are seeing more and more smuggling of the children,'' she said. ``It's very dangerous to entrust the life of a child to a smuggler.'' According to documents filed in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles, the smuggling organization was headed by Juan Ramirez-Ramirez, 37, of Oxnard, who was also known as ``El Diablo,'' or ``the Devil.'' Authorities said Ramirez charged $1,600 to $2,000 for each illegal immigrant smuggled to the Los Angeles area from Mexico. The fee increased to as much as $2,800 for immigrants destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. for other parts of the United States. Investigators said the ring has apparently smuggled more than 100 illegal aliens into the United States in the past six weeks alone. Authorities allege Ramirez and two sisters from Oxnard, Maria Margarita Renovato-Rangel and Maria De Jesus Maria de Jesus dos Santos (born September 10, 1893) is a Portuguese supercentenarian, and, as of August 13, 2007, the second-oldest person in the world. She has been the oldest verified living person in Portugal since the death of fellow 114-year-old Maria do Couto Maia-Lopes on Renovato, arranged for the immigrants to be brought across the border near San Luis, Ariz., and transported to Yuma. There, they were kept with little food in ``drop houses'' until drivers brought them to Oxnard. In addition to Ramirez and the Renovato sisters, the suspects include Joel Rodriguez-Vargas, 27, of Riverside and Manuel Leon-Morales, 62, of Los Angeles. The other suspects remained at large. They include Norma Higinia Felix De Sanchez, 41, of Yuma, who specialized in smuggling infants and children, some as young as 8 months, using false identification documents, officials said. The case is the first prosecution brought by the newly established Domestic Security and Immigration immigration, entrance of a person (an alien) into a new country for the purpose of establishing permanent residence. Motives for immigration, like those for migration generally, are often economic, although religious or political factors may be very important. Crimes Section within the U.S. Attorney's Office in Los Angeles. eric.leach(at)dailynews.com (805) 583-7602 |
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