Operation results in intercepted human smuggling effort

Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents recently joined forces with the Government of Mexico to interrupt a human smuggling effort resulting in 24 arrests.

Officials said agents assigned to the Laredo Sector Intelligence Unit received information regarding a large assembly at a residence in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico, waiting to be smuggled into the United States.

The information was relayed to the Laredo Sector Foreign Operations Branch, who collaborated with the Government of Mexico and coordinated the enforcement action.

“This enforcement action clearly demonstrates the exceptional level of binational cooperation that the Border Patrol has with the Government of Mexico,” Gabriel Acosta, assistant chief patrol agent, said. “We fully intend to continue this level of cooperation between both governments to detect and prevent the smuggling of individuals.”

The Laredo Sector Foreign Operations Branch (LRT FOB) was established in October 2016 as a means of streamlining, structuring and building upon the successes of the International Liaison Unit. The branch was built on four pillars consisting of international liaison, consular affairs, binational enforcement and binational prosecution.

CBP is charged with the management, control, and protection of the nation’s borders at and between official ports of entry in addition to keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.