TUCSON, ARIZ.—U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in Willcox Station successfully located individuals alleged to have forced their way into a residence Monday evening near Sunizona, Ariz.
After receiving a report that suspected illegal immigrants had broken into a home, agents searched the area and discovered several sets of footprints and spent the entire night tracking them. With help from canine and horse patrol units, agents found five suspects near Dos Cabezas, Ariz., with four bundles of marijuana.
Two of the individuals, a Mexican juvenile and Guatemalan national, later admitted involvement in the forced entry. The remaining three subjects, citizens of Mexico, admitted to being in the country illegally.
The seized marijuana has an estimated value of $103,000 and will be turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration. All five subjects were charged with narcotics smuggling and being in the United States illegally. The Cochise County Sheriff’s Office is currently leading the breaking and entering investigation.
Specialty units play a vital role in combating transnational criminal organizations from operating in the Tucson sector. Through multi-agency cooperation, the CBP continues to make significant progress in disrupting and denying criminal organizations the opportunity to operate along the Sonora/Arizona border.
CBP welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling (877) 872-7435 toll free.