PHOENIX — U.S. Border Patrol agents in Arizona’s Tucson Sector have ramped up efforts to dismantle cartel-operated scouting bases near the southern border in an effort to disrupt drug and human smuggling operations.
In a recent mission just west of Ajo, Special Operations agents were airlifted by helicopter into rugged terrain where they located a scouting site and arrested two previously deported Mexican nationals. Both are now facing smuggling, conspiracy, and immigration-related charges.
These scouting bases, often perched on remote mountaintops, are used to track law enforcement movements and coordinate illegal activity. Authorities say the Tohono O’odham Nation, with its remote and mountainous landscape, is currently seeing the highest concentration of this activity.
The Border Patrol is working in coordination with the Mexican military to locate and dismantle these sites on both sides of the border. During previous operations in April, agents recovered rifles, bulletproof vests, ammunition, and radio equipment at scouting sites in the Mexican desert.
Officials say dismantling these positions is critical for public safety and saving lives, as smugglers often prioritize profit over human life, leaving migrants in dangerous situations.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office is now investigating the site near Ajo to pursue further criminal charges.
