COLLIER TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Police swarmed a local shopping center on Friday.

Police say four vehicles with a number of illegal aliens inside were stopped at the Great Southern Shopping Center in Bridgeville.

The officers made the discovery when they stopped to check on what they thought were disabled cars.

Police say they found 12 people, including two children. And, according to police, nine of the 12 were determined to be illegally in the United States.

"After speaking with them, most of them didn't have identification on them. We contacted immigration, and they came out within two hours and started to question them. And as a result, we determined the majority were illegally in the United States -- working here. And they were in possession of a loaded firearm and several knives," said Officer Rick Lamb of the Collier Township police.

The suspects will be held at the Allegheny County Jail.