Couple Caught Red-Handed Smuggling Illegal Aliens by Tucson Border Patrol

By Matthew Holloway |

The Tucson Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol, led by Chief Patrol Agent John Modlin, has reported significant recent apprehensions of human smugglers at the U.S.-Mexico border.

Last week, a couple from Phoenix was apprehended in Benson, Arizona. They were allegedly transporting three undocumented individuals during a trip to Bisbee. The Arizona Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol stopped their vehicle, leading to the collaborative engagement of Border Patrol agents.

In a statement, Modlin detailed the incident, where the driver claimed they were merely picking up belongings. However, this explanation surfaced alongside troubling prior criminal history, as Modlin noted the driver had previously been convicted of human smuggling in 2022.

Both the driver and his girlfriend face charges under 8 USC 1324 for their smuggling activities. Meanwhile, the three undocumented immigrants are being charged under 8 USC 1182, which pertains to immigration inadmissibility and re-entry violations.

The ongoing investigation is being conducted alongside the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona, under the leadership of U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. According to recent Customs and Border Protection statistics, Border Patrol has encountered over 193,000 individuals this fiscal year, with 4,323 identified as criminal non-citizens, including 289 with outstanding warrants.

Earlier on the same day of the Phoenix couple’s apprehension, Modlin shared footage of another arrest at the Willcox Border Patrol Station. Agents halted a smuggler transporting four undocumented immigrants, one of whom was found hidden in the vehicle’s trunk. Modlin emphasized the critical role of agents in preventing such dangerous operations.

Charges for this individual also under 8 USC 1324 mirror those faced by the Phoenix couple, while the undocumented immigrants will similarly be processed under 8 USC 1182.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. He can be followed on X for the latest updates or contacted via email at Matthew@azfreenews.com.