see also: in April 2007 News Releases:   CBP Officers at O’Hare Seize $6.7 Million Worth of Cocaine   CBP Officers Seize $8 Million Worth of Marijuana at Calexico Port   CBP Border Patrol Rescues Three   U.S., Mexican Officials Announce Grand Opening Of Brownsville SENTRI Lane   Funcionarios de Estados Unidos y México Anuncian Inauguración del Carril SENTRI en Brownsville   First Mobile Sensor Tower Arrives In Arizona   Frequent Traveler Charged with Marijuana Smuggling ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Tucson, Ariz. — Two Mexican nationals are in the custody of the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, following a joint search with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol agents on Sunday.

The incident began Sunday morning at 4:30 a.m., when a group of 30 illegal aliens were robbed by a pair of bandits, near Green Valley, Ariz. The group ran from the bandits but two women were abducted from the group. Eight individuals from the group met with the bandits again and were robbed. After Border Patrol agents apprehended the group, the agents reported the incident to the Pima County Sheriff’s Office and a joint search for the bandits was initiated.

The Tucson sector search and rescue, and special response personnel initiated a tracking operation to locate the bandits or their captives. At 5 p.m., a CBP Air unit spotted a large group of suspected aliens along with individuals with long-arm weapons. Agents were able to apprehend the group of 52, including the two women who had earlier been reported missing. The special response team located an AK-47 assault rifle and $900 cash. Two suspected bandits were also captured.

Thirty seven of the aliens apprehended reported being victim to the bandits. Sheriff’s deputies have detained a 19-year-old Mexican national from Sinaloa and a 25-year-old from Chihuahua, Mexico on 51 counts each for armed robbery, aggravated robbery and aggravated assault. The illegal aliens who were victims to the crimes have been processed and voluntarily returned to Mexico.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.