In a recent incident, Border Patrol Agents in the Tucson Sector apprehended migrants who were attempting to blend into the desert surroundings by wearing camouflage. This revelation was shared on social media by Chief Patrol Agent John R. Modlin.
"Tucson Sector agents with #HorsePatrol assets successfully tracked and apprehended a group of illegal migrants near Douglas, Arizona. Migrants often resort to camouflage tactics to evade detection and capture when entering the U.S. illegally", said John R. Modlin, according to X.
In addition to migrant apprehensions, agents in the Tucson Sector frequently conduct narcotics busts. According to a news release from Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a Nogales Station Border Patrol agent and his K9 partner seized 130 pounds of narcotics while patrolling near Amado in October. The drugs were discovered on October 5th during a search of four abandoned duffel bags near the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint. Subsequent testing revealed that the bags contained 71 pounds of meth with an estimated street value of $63,796 and 63.3 pounds of fentanyl valued at approximately $416,150.
Modlin commented on this significant seizure, saying, "It not only demonstrates the hard work of this dedicated canine team but also illustrates the need for our agents to be in the field, doing what they do best. In this case, that’s keeping dangerous drugs from reaching our nation’s communities."
Later that month, CBP agents operating at the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint arrested a motorist found with 53 pounds of fentanyl hidden within a white Ford F150's bed. The drugs were concealed in a secret compartment that contained several packets of blue pills. The motorist and the drugs were subsequently handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration for prosecution as part of a narcotic smuggling attempt.
According to a CBP report, since the start of this fiscal year on October 1st, 2023, agents have encountered 988,819 individuals. During this period, seizures have included 4,070 pounds of marijuana, 232 pounds of cocaine, 18 pounds of heroin, 2,102 pounds of methamphetamine and 461 pounds of fentanyl.
