TUCSON, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents from the Nogales and Willcox stations arrested three U.S. citizens during the weekend for their involvement in separate human-smuggling attempts.
On Saturday afternoon, agents at the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint referred a Chrysler sedan for additional inspection after a Border Patrol canine alerted to an odor it was trained to detect. When agents opened the trunk to investigate, they found a male Mexican national inside. Agents seized the Chrysler and arrested the driver, a 29-year-old woman from Oro Valley, Arizona, for smuggling.
Agents working at the immigration checkpoint on State Route 191 Sunday evening conducted a further inspection on a Chevy Impala after a Border Patrol canine alerted to an odor it was trained to detect. When agents opened the vehicle’s trunk, they discovered two Mexican nationals inside, a man and a woman. Agents seized the Impala and arrested the driver, a 50-year-old Phoenix man, and his 37-year-old female passenger, also from Phoenix, for smuggling.
All Mexican nationals were determined to have entered the United States illegally and were arrested for immigration violations.
Anyone who enters the country illegally will be arrested and face criminal prosecution per Tucson Sector guidelines. If found guilty, first-time offenders could be incarcerated for up to 180 days.
Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless or until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. Reporting illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.