A dozen more illegal immigrants picked up on Interstate 40

By Elizabeth Ridenour
Assistant City Editor

January 17, 2008 11:53 pm

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For the third time in less than a week, Muskogee County deputies have picked up illegal aliens on Interstate 40, Sheriff Charles Pearson said.
Thursday’s arrests bring the total to 43, according to Pearson.
Deputy Jimmy Williams stopped a vehicle Thursday afternoon and discovered 12 illegal immigrants, Pearson said.
The eastbound vehicle, which was stopped for speeding, was a white Suburban with a paper tag out of Arizona, he said.
“Nobody speaks English — no English at all,” Pearson said. “But, they were really nice people.”
Three of the people in the vehicle were women, and one was a musician with an accordion, Pearson said.
Sunday, Williams found 16 immigrants in a 2000 Ford Excursion on I-40 near Webbers Falls. That vehicle also was stopped for a traffic violation.
Wednesday afternoon, Deputy James Burke stopped a Ford F150 pickup with a camper for a traffic violation in the eastbound lanes of I-40 in Muskogee County. Although the camper had dark windows, Burke discovered 15 illegal immigrants inside, Pearson said.
Deputies have been working on I-40 in Muskogee County in an effort to reduce drugs that are being moved through the county.