According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the arrest happened around 7:46 p.m. when agents observed a group of five individuals entered the country illegally. After that, a Chrysler PT Cruiser loaded the immigrants on Interstate 8, west of Yuma.
Additionally, Border Patrol agents saw a black Volkswagen Beetle acting as a lookout for the Chrysler PT Cruiser. They followed the vehicles with the help of the CBP Air and Marine Operations assets to a gas station in El Centro.
They found that the PT Cruiser contained four immigrants who were illegally present in the country. The driver was a U.S. citizen. The individuals in the black Volkswagen Beetle were also U.S. citizens.
The three U.S. citizens will face criminal charges for human smuggling. The four immigrants will remain in custody as material witnesses in the case.
Border Patrol Agents Continue to Crack Down on Transnational Criminal Organizations
In a statement, Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez, said, “The coordinated efforts between El Centro and Yuma sectors combined with CBP Air and Marine Operations will continue to put a stranglehold on transnational criminal organizations who falsely believe that their activity will have no consequences.”
