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Border Patrol agents in Arizona apprehended U.S. citizens for human smuggling and drug trafficking in separate incidents over the past few days.

On Friday, October 19, agents assigned in Sonoita Station tried to inspect a GMC truck travelling southbound on the State Route 83. The driver tried to avoid the inspection by accelerating the speed of the truck, which eventually crashed on State Route 82 near the entrance of Patagonia Lake.

The Border Patrol agents together with the Patagonia Marshalls arrested the driver, a 29-year old U.S. citizen and nine immigrants from Guatemala and Mexico. They filed charges against the driver for human trafficking.

The agents took six of the immigrants to the hospital for medical evaluation. The hospital did not find any serious injury to any of the immigrants, who are facing charges for violating U.S. immigration laws.

Border Patrol agents seized 319 pounds of marijuana

In a separate incident on Sunday, October 21, Border patrol agents tried to stop and inspect a truck hauling a boat. The driver escaped northbound on State Route 83. Agents chased and eventually stopped the vehicle. They arrested the driver, a 59-year-old U.S. citizen from Tucson, Arizona.

Agents found a loaded shotgun and 14 bundles of marijuana inside the truck and the boat. The total weight of the marijuana is 319 pounds, valued around $119,625. They seized the driver’s weapon, vehicle, and the illegal drugs. They filed charges against him for drug trafficking.

U.S. citizens attempted to smuggle methamphetamine

At the Yuma Sector, Border Patrol agents arrested multiple U.S. citizens for human smuggling and drug trafficking on Saturday.

Agents at Blythe Station arrested the driver and passenger of a 2017 Ford Focus. Both are U.S. citizens and attempting to return to the U.S. through the Highway 78 immigration Checkpoint. They also arrested a Mexican national for entering the country illegally.

During the immigration inspection, Border patrol agents discovered that the two U.S. citizens possess a firearm and methamphetamine.

Separately, Border Patrol agents assigned at the Wellton Station apprehended another U.S. citizen, who drove a black 2001 Ford Mustang. During an inspection of the vehicle, agents discovered 14 packages of methamphetamine inside the rocker panels of the vehicle.

The combined weight of the illegal drugs is 15.25 pounds and its approximate street value is $45,750. The agents filed criminal charges against the driver for drug trafficking.

In September, Border Patrol agents arrested U.S. citizens for trying to smuggle illegal drugs worth almost $1 million.