Brawley, California - Border Patrol Agents arrested a suspected alien smuggler in Brawley last week.

The apprehension was part of Operation Blazing Sands, a joint operation consisting of agents from El Centro and Yuma Border Patrol sectors.  

The incident occurred at approximately 9 p.m., when agents observed a group of five individuals illegally enter the United States before loading into a vehicle on Interstate-8, west of Yuma.  Agents observed the vehicle drive west on Interstate 8 and initiated a pursuit.  The agents were able to successfully stop the vehicle in Brawley.

The driver and occupants were arrested and transported to the Yuma Border Patrol station for further processing.

“This operation leverages the strengths of El Centro Sector and Yuma Sector to better target Transnational Criminal Organizations,” said El Centro Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez.

The joint effort between the two neighboring sectors aims to alleviate the dangers of illegal crossings, especially during summer months.  Temperatures in both El Centro and Yuma area of operations reach upwards of 115 degrees, making a trek through the desert extremely dangerous. 

This operation also intends to identify trends and vulnerabilities of transnational criminal organizations, with synchronized enforcement efforts between the two sectors.