At least 5 arrested.
PHOENIX -
Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies raided a General Nutrition Corporation warehouse near 63rd Avenue and Buckeye Thursday morning.
MCSO's Jeff Sprong says the vitamin distribution business employed as many as 21 suspects using false identifications to secure employment. Two suspects were using social security numbers belonging to dead persons, Sheriff Joe Arpaio said.
About 30 MCSO deputies are involved in the operation.
Arpaio says five people were arrested. One person was hiding in a women's bathroom, while another tried to hide under some type of equipment.
Someone familiar with the business tipped off the Sheriff's office last year about illegal immigrants using fake IDs.
"This is a big, big operation..over 1,100 stores on the west coast and Alaska and Hawaii..we're not done yet. We have five in custody and will continue to look for the rest," said Arpaio.
The suspects' names were not released.
The business remains open. GNC, which is headquartered in Pittsburgh, released a statement saying: "The company is cooperating fully with officials and has started an internal investigation into the situation."
Copyright © 2003-2013 Clear Channel. All rights reserved.
