The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) announced the arrests of three illegal aliens it said were agents of a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel who served as scouts, as well as a foot guide, in a Friday news release and statement by Chief Patrol Agent Sean McGoffin of the Tucson Sector.
According to the agency, the cartel scouts and food guide were arrested during three separate incidents, beginning with an encounter in an area south of the Maricopa Mountains last Monday.
It was in this area that CBP reported its agents apprehended a man who admitted to illegally crossing the southern border, and upon searching the individual, discovered “communication and observation devices commonly used by cartel scouts” among the man’s belongings.
The next day, CBP said its agents were patrolling in the Silverbell Mountains when they located and arrested a Guatemalan national and a Mexican national, who it said were both in the country illegally, after discovering them “in remote, elevated mountain perches previously used by human and drug smugglers.”
As with the first arrest, CBP reported its agents recovered communication devices commonly used by cartels, but also that they discovered solar panels and batteries.
CBP said the third arrest occurred later on Tuesday, when agents arrested two Mexican nationals present on the Tohono O’odham Nation. The agency said both admitted to crossing into the country illegally.
One of the men, according to CBP, “admitted he was a foot guide for Los Memos,” which McGoffin described as “a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel.”
Get the Memos? In 3 events, Casa Grande agents arrested 3 illegal alien scouts & 1 foot guide, 2 confirmed to work for the Los Memos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Federal charges; 8 USC 1324 Alien Smuggling, 8 USC 1326 Re-entry, & 18 USC 371 Conspiracyhttps://t.co/Mrlwl9laqW pic.twitter.com/9imlIsk53n
— Chief Patrol Agent – Tucson Sector (@USBPChiefTCA) February 28, 2025
The agency reported all five of the illegal aliens were charged with illegal entry, but that three will additionally face conspiracy and human smuggling charges.
“Taking away the eyes and ears of the smugglers makes it harder to move people and contraband, making it safer for agents and communities on both sides of the international border,” said McGoffin in a statement that praised the U.S. Department of Justice as a “valuable partner.”
The efforts by CBP come as illegal border crossings have reportedly plummeted to the lowest level in a quarter century, with only 8,450 apprehensions of illegal immigrants recorded during February, down from the 8,000 apprehensions per day seen under the Biden administration.
A Trump administration official also reportedly confirmed on Friday that the federal government has removed more than 50,000 illegal immigrants since President Donald Trump returned to the White House on January 20, with a U.S. Department of Homeland Security official telling National Review that CBP and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were kept from completing their jobs under the previous administration.
“Our brave ICE and CBP officers were hamstrung for the last four years—blockaded from doing their jobs,” the official reportedly told the outlet. “This is just the beginning. We will deliver on President Trump’s mandate and vision.”
The Trump administration recently announced that illegal immigrants must submit personal and biometric information to a U.S. Citizens and Immigration Services (USCIS) account, and that failure to comply with the requirement could result in fines or prison.
– – –
Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
