Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents stopped two human smuggling attempts this week while conducting immigration checkpoint operations on State Route 83 near Sonoita.
A U.S. citizen driving a 2001 Saturn Ion sped through the immigration checkpoint Tuesday, prompting agents to pursue the car a short distance before the driver pulled over. During a search of the vehicle, agents found three adult Mexican nationals in the trunk.
The second incident occurred Wednesday when agents working the same immigration checkpoint referred a U.S. citizen driving a Hyundai Accent to the secondary inspection area after the driver consented to a search of the vehicle. During the inspection, agents discovered three undocumented Mexican nationals hiding in the vehicle’s trunk.
The drivers in both incidents are being prosecuted for human smuggling. The six undocumented Mexican nationals are pending removal proceedings in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines.