Arizona Operation Arrests 143 Suspects, Seizes 74 Pounds of Meth in Border Smuggling Bust
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Aug 31
Arizona Operation Arrests 143 Suspects, Seizes 74 Pounds of Meth in Border Smuggling Bust
3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Aug 31
Summary
Authorities arrested 143 suspects from 18 countries in a four-day Arizona operation, including 95 illegal immigrant truck drivers who held state-issued commercial licenses.
The Aug. 10-14 sweep in CBP’s Yuma Sector also disrupted two human-smuggling events, leading to four smuggler arrests and the discovery of 17 smuggled migrants.
Agents seized 74 pounds of methamphetamine and 169 pounds of marijuana, underscoring how commercial trucking remains a key channel for cross-border drug and human trafficking.
Of the 95 truck drivers, 76 carried California-issued CDLs and six had New York licenses, highlighting concerns that unqualified foreign drivers obtained state credentials.
The bust comes as border encounters have fallen from more than 144,000 in December 2024 to 33,000 in July, while the Transportation Department finalizes rules to tighten CDL eligibility.