A human smuggler and a suspected accomplice were apprehended by Interpol Mexico and the Fuerza Estatal de Seguridad Ciudadana.

This feat comes after extensive coordination and cooperation efforts between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations, according to a March 23 news release. Joint Task Force Alpha coordinated the arrests of Ofelia Hernandez-Salas and co-conspirator Raul Saucedo-Huipio after their indictments.

“Combating human smuggling is one of our top law enforcement priorities and a critical component of national security,” ICE’s Deputy Director Tae Johnson, senior official performing the duties of the director, said in the release. “Homeland Security Investigations special agents are committed to holding transnational criminal organizations accountable for perpetrating this horrific crime."

Hernandez-Salas, 60, and Saucedo-Huipio, 48, were arrested in Mexico at the request of the U.S., following charges previously filed in Arizona, the release reported. Charges show Hernandez-Salas and Saucedo-Huipio allegedly conspired with other smugglers to make way for large numbers of migrants from and through Bangladesh, Yemen, Pakistan, Eritrea, India, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Russia, Egypt, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico into the U.S.

At the time, the two defendants are said to have charged migrants tens of thousands of dollars for the journey and often allegedly robbed them of their personal belongings while armed with guns and knives, the release stated.

Johnson noted they will continue to employ their full range of law enforcement techniques and authorities against human smugglers, warning they will catch, expose, dismantle and seek justice on anyone who commits these acts, according to the release.

“This administration has led an unprecedented anti-human smuggling campaign that leverages the full weight of the U.S. government, and it is showing results," U.S. Department of Homeland Security Deputy Secretary John K. Tien said in the release. "These indictments build on tremendous collaboration across the federal government, which includes JTFA, and the investments we continue to make in strengthening our relationships with partners in the region and throughout the hemisphere. We are unwavering in our commitment to continuing to hold transnational criminal networks accountable and to bring them to justice.”