El Centro, California - Border Patrol Agents arrested a man suspected of alien smuggling in El Centro Sector Wednesday afternoon.

The apprehension was part of the ongoing Operation Blazing Sands, a joint operation between El Centro and Yuma Border Patrol sectors. 

The incident occurred at approximately 4:35 p.m., when agents observed two individuals illegally enter the United States before loading into a red Hyundai sedan on Interstate 8, west of Yuma. 

Agents continued mobile surveillance of the red sedan as it drove west on Interstate 8, and then proceeded north on Highway 111.  The sedan continued north until stopping in Niland. 

Agents then approached the vehicle and conducted an immigration inspection on the driver and passengers.  The driver of the sedan was identified as a 44-year-old United States citizen, while the two passengers were citizens of Mexico illegally present in the United States.

The driver was processed for Alien Smuggling and the two passengers were processed for removal back to Mexico.