Operation Blazing Sands gives Border Patrol insight on human trafficking
El Centro and Yuma sector border patrol conducted an operation to better tackle human smuggling attempts into the United States.
The operation began August 20 and ended September 30. It illustrated an increase in human trafficking in the area.
“The goal was to identify vulnerabilities in tactics used by transnational criminal organizations and to further identify targets for investigations and counter operations,” said Agent Justin Zaffuto, El Centro sector border patrol.
The results showed an increase in human trafficking. Border Patrol agents apprehended 355 people, according to El Centro sector border patrol.
“Within the 545 entries, we had 16 vehicle smuggling attempts and off of those attempts we made 83 arrests. All the vehicles that were involved in the smuggling attempts were successfully seized,” explained Agent Zaffuto.
105 out of the 545 who entered the country were able to get away from agents.
Border Patrol explained the dangers of human smuggling.
“You can’t carry enough water or food. Most of the time you don’t know where you’re at and you put your trust into these smugglers. You think that they have your best interests in mind, but they don’t. They’re quick to leave you behind and abandon you because all they care about is money,” said Agent Zaffuto.
