Border Patrol vehicle damaged while stopping a smuggling attempt

TUCSON, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - A Border Patrol vehicle was damaged as agents stopped a smuggling attempt in Tucson, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

In a press release, the incident happened Tuesday night after Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents at the Nogales Station "observed a black Trailblazer suspected of human smuggling near the border."

As the agents tried to stop the vehicle "to perform an immigration inspection," the vehicle failed to yield, resulting in the Trailblazer to pull into a restaurant's parking lot and the driver ran off, CBP says.

However, the vehicle was still moving, with two people still inside, causing one of the agents to drive his patrol vehicle in front of it to prevent the Trailblazer "from rolling toward I-19 and into incoming traffic," according to CBP, who says the Trailblazer crashed into the passenger door "before coming to a complete stop."

Another agent, according to CBP, chased and arrested the 16-year-old driver. CBP also says the driver and the two passengers are Mexican citizens "illegally present in the United States," prompting the agents to take the driver, passengers and Trailblazer to the Nogales Station to be processed.

CBP says the passengers "will be used as material witnesses in a criminal case against the driver for human smuggling."

"This incident could have turned out very differently. Thanks to these agents' immediate actions, no one was hurt. Smuggling organizations don’t care who they put at risk, including aliens, agents, and the public. Their tactic of recruiting minors to do their dirty work is especially dangerous, and it needs to stop."

Sean L. McGoffin, Chief Patrol Agent, Tucson Sector