Four U.S. Citizens Busted for Human Smuggling, Say Feds

Border Patrol agents in the Tucson Sector arrested four U.S. citizens for allegedly engaging in human smuggling activities. The agents also took four foreign nationals into custody for illegally entering the U.S.

Border Patrol agents assigned to the Tucson and Three Points Stations engaged in a high-speed pursuit on March 22 that led to the arrest of two U.S. citizens for their alleged human smuggling efforts. Agents from the Three Points Station initially attempted to stop a Chevy Cavalier south of the town of Sells, Arizona, according to information obtained by Breitbart Texas from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials.

The driver of the Cavalier failed to stop when the agents activated their emergency lights, officials stated. As the vehicle approach Sells, it slowed down and two men in camouflage clothing jumped out of the car and ran into the desert. The fleeing smugglers continued their attempt to escape capture.

Officers from the O’odham Police Department assisted Border Patrol agents in capturing the two men who fled into the desert. Officials identified them as Mexican nationals who had illegally entered the U.S.

The pursuit of the Cavalier continued and Border Patrol agents requested assistance from a CBP Air andMarine Operations (AMO) helicopter. As the pursuit continued along State Route 86, the AMO helicopter arrived overhead and monitored the fleeing vehicle.

The vehicle approached the SR86 immigration checkpoint where agents deployed a tire deflation device. The Cavalier’s driver swerved to avoid the device and crashed into the desert. The driver and a passenger fled on foot but agents quickly made the apprehension and took them into custody. Officials identified the driver and the passenger as U.S. citizens.

Agents transported the 20-year-old passenger to a nearby hospital for evaluation. The driver, 26, did not sustain any injuries from the crash.

Officials processed the U.S. citizens on charges of human smuggling. The Mexican nationals, ages 31 and 43, are being charged with immigration violations.

Earlier that day, agents assigned to the Nogales Station arrested two women from Phoenix on human smuggling charges after the agents found two juvenile illegal aliens hidden in the trunk of their car. The arrest came at the immigration checkpoint on Interstate 19 near the town of Amado on March 22.

Agents became suspicious of the driver when she initially stopped at the checkpoint. The agent referred the woman, a 43-year-old U.S. citizen, to the secondary inspection station. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of two juveniles hiding in the trunk of the 2014 Chevy Malibu, CBP officials stated.

An investigation revealed that the two 16-year-olds were from Guatemala.

Agents transported all four people to the Nogales Station for processing. They arrested the two women from Phoenix on human smuggling charges. They two Guatemalan teens will be turned over to immigration officers for processing.

These arrests follow the arrests of more than 200 people in the Yuma Sector during a three-week human smuggling interdiction operation, Breitbart Texas reported. “Operation Sandman” led to the arrest of 175 illegal immigrants and 29 suspected human smugglers.