Yuma Sector Border Patrol Agents Thwart Drug, Human Smuggling Attempts

At Immigration Checkpoints on Highway 78 and Interstate 8, Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents arrested three people during two smuggling incidents on Monday. The arrests involved more than half-a-million dollars in hard narcotics.

Blythe Station agents referred the driver of a 2002 Mercury Milan for a secondary inspection after a Border Patrol canine alerted to an odor it was trained to detect emitting from the vehicle, at approximately 2:30 p.m.

During the subsequent search, agents found 96 packages of methamphetamine and heroin hidden throughout the vehicle. In all, agents seized more than 120 pounds of narcotics valued in excess of $525,000. Agents seized the vehicle and drugs, and arrested the driver, identified as a 38-year-old Mexican national with legal permanent residence in the United States.

At approximately 8:45 p.m., Wellton Station agents referred the driver of a 2016 Honda Accord for a secondary immigration inspection. As a result, agents identified the three rear-seat passengers were Mexican nationals unlawfully present in the country. They are being processed for immigration violations.

The 35-year-old driver and 36-year-old front-seat passenger are both U.S. citizens. The driver is from Sacramento, Calif. The passenger is from San Bernardino, Calif. Both were arrested for alien smuggling and harboring. Agents also found approximately 14.5 grams of meth in the vehicle.

The Border Patrol seized the narcotics and vehicle.

About ADI Staff Reporter 12171 Articles
Under the leadership of Editor-in -Chief Huey Freeman, our team of staff reporters bring accurate,timely, and complete news coverage.