Operation Sandman leads to 170 arrests involving human smuggling

A three-week Border Patrol operation lead to the arrests of 170 suspects near the Imperial Sand Dunes west of Yuma. The operation was between April and May.

Yuma Sector’s Special Operations Detachment, Yuma and El Centro Sector Intelligence Units, with help from CBP Air and Marine Office made 145 arrests of foreign nationals being smuggled into the United States near the Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area. Four subjects were Chinese nationals and three were Indian nationals.

Twenty-five subjects, United States citizens, were arrested for coordinating the human smuggling attempts. Fifteen vehicles that were involved in the attempted smuggling were seized and three additional ones were returned to rental car companies after the subjects were apprehended.

Yuma Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony J. Porvaznik stated, “The joint efforts between Yuma and El Centro Sectors and all personnel involved in this operation have made our country and communities safer for everyone. We are committed to enforcing the rule of law and dismantling the criminal organizations that victimize people throughout the world.”

Yuma Sector Special Operations Detachment agents are compromised of special operations agents from the Special Operations Group, the Border Patrol Search Trauma & Rescue Unit, and the Border Patrol Tactical Unit.

Agents assigned to this unit undergo an intense training regimen before being certified SOD agents.