9 illegal immigrants in blankets found in truck

Cherokee County authorities stopped a pickup truck Wednesday night carrying nine illegal immigrants covered in blankets.

The driver, also an illegal immigrant, had a large amount of cash and apparently had driven the group from Arizona. The passengers entered the U.S. in the last few days, authorities said.

Maj. Ron Hunton said the “substantial” amount of money suggested the driver was hired to transport the group. He declined to specify the amount.

A sheriff’s deputy stopped the truck on I-575 in Woodstock at 10:30 p.m. Wednesday, because of a tag violation. The driver, Alexander Nieves Lopez, was charged with a number of traffic violations in addition to providing a false name. He was being held at the Cherokee Adult Detention Center for ICE (Immigration Custom Enforcement).

ICE took immediate custody of the nine passengers — eight adults and a juvenile — for “further investigation and deportation,” Hunton said.

Hunton couldn’t remember any similar incidents in Cherokee.

“It’s unusual around here,” he said.