TUCSON, Ariz. - The Border Patrol and a local crime hot line are joining forces to seek the public's help in tracking down smugglers bringing people or drugs into the country.

Officials said Thursday they hope to receive information on so-called drop houses, which are used to store drugs or harbor illegal immigrants while they are being transported cross-country.

They also said they hope calls to the Tucson area's 88-CRIME tip line will help reduce the number of migrant deaths in the Arizona desert, a popular entry point for illegal immigrants.

"We've found that many of the illegal immigrants are being held in stash houses against their will, and we don't want that to happen," said Gary Dhaemers, executive director of 88-CRIME, which has been operating for more than two decades as a tip service for local law enforcement agencies.

Immigration-related information will be turned over to the Border Patrol and its sister agency, Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"We're not looking for people calling in saying there's illegal aliens walking down the road or driving down the road," said John Fitzpatrick, acting assistant chief patrol agent in the Border Patrol's Tucson sector. "We're looking for people who have some kind of institutional knowledge, maybe of an organization, or just suspicious activity in a neighborhood."

The sector, which covers all the Arizona-Mexico border except for an area around Yuma, is the nation's busiest region for immigrant smuggling.

Dhaemers said a desire to prevent desert deaths spurred the linkup with the Border Patrol.

"We do not want to see anyone's human rights abused. And if we have information that can save some of these illegal immigrants from the desert or from the people that are using them as cargo to make money, then we believe that it's a good cause."

Fitzpatrick called the agency's teaming with 88-CRIME a crucial partnership at a crucial time when authorities are trying to disrupt immigrant smuggling organizations in southern Arizona.

Dale Brown, assistant special agent in charge of the Tucson office of ICE, said the more people who take a few moments to call 88-CRIME, the safer the community will be. "This is a community problem. They need the eyes and ears of people who are out there, who may know something."

Dhaemers said about one in 100 callers receives a reward, some ranging up to $1,000. Since Jan. 1, 88-CRIME has received about 50 tips passed on to the Border Patrol, he said.

The organization averages about 1,500 calls a month, mostly to report traditional criminal activity.