U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a smuggler and four undocumented migrants after they illegally crossed into the United States near Lukeville on Sunday evening, May 18.
Agents from the Ajo Station made the arrest after surveillance technology detected a group walking through a remote area near Lukeville around 5 p.m. Responding agents located and detained all five individuals.
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The group included a 49-year-old Cuban woman, a 27-year-old woman from Uzbekistan traveling with her two young children, and a 38-year-old Mexican man suspected of acting as their foot guide. During the encounter, agents confirmed the group had crossed illegally through the desert earlier that day.
All five were transported to the Ajo Station for processing. The Mexican man faces criminal charges for human smuggling as a foot guide, in addition to illegal entry charges.
“Smuggling through remote desert areas poses significant dangers, especially for families with children,” said Chief Patrol Agent Sean McGoffin of the Tucson Sector. “Our mission is to disrupt human smuggling networks along the Southwest border to protect people from falling victim to unscrupulous smugglers.”
Follow the Chief of Tucson Sector on X at @USBPChiefTCA and U.S. Customs and Border Protection at @CBPArizona for breaking news, updates, human interest stories, and photos.
