Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents stop two separate human smuggling attempts

13 people arrested

TUCSON, Ariz. (KYMA) - U.S. Border Patrol agents in the Tucson Sector stopped two separate smuggling attempts this month, leading to 13 people being arrested.

According to a press release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the first smuggling attempt happened on November 9 after agents tried to stop a 2019 Ford Expedition on Highway 82 near Sonoita.

CBP says the Ford initially stopped, but sped away. However, during the chase, the Ford slowed down, allowing six people to get out of the vehicle, but the agents quickly arrested them.

The Ford, according to CBP, continued driving eastbound, but it crashed into a Jeep Wrangler near the intersection of Highway 82 and Highway 90, causing both vehicles to roll over.

After the crash, CBP says the driver of the Ford, a U.S. citizen, and the driver and passenger of the Jeep were taken to the hospital.

CBP then said the driver of the Ford and four additional people were arrested, and said the Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to the crash and cited the driver of the Ford for "several civil infractions."

The second smuggling attempt, according to CBP, happened on November 14, where agents at the Nogales Stations saw a suspected smuggling vehicle, a Chrysler PT Cruiser, near West International Street in Nogales.

After the agents tried to pull the vehicle over, the Chrysler failed to stop, but lost control and rolled over onto its roof.

Both the driver, a U.S. citizen, and passenger, and undocumented migrant, then got out of the vehicle and ran away, but the agents quickly arrested them, CBP says.

The driver, according to CBP, was "taken into custody for human smuggling and cited by the Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office for failure to control speed" while the "passenger was detained and processed for immigration violations."

CBP says the two human smuggling attempts resulted in the arrests of two U.S. citizens, 10 Mexican nationals and one Guatemalan national.

"These incidents highlight the extreme risks human smugglers take, not only endangering themselves but also the lives of innocent individuals they exploit and the public," said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Henry N. Laxdal. "Tucson Sector Border Patrol remains committed to leveraging all available resources to combat these illicit activities and ensure the safety and security of our communities and borders."

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