see also: in August 2005 Press Releases:   DHS: Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative Formally Submitted for Public Comment   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Canine Superstar Wins Paws to Recognize Voting Contest   Border Patrol Seizes Refrigerated Truck Trailer Loaded with Aliens   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Selects the “Predator B” as Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Platform to Guard our Nations Borders   CBP Border Patrol Agents Arrest Murder Suspect   U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer Apprehends Man Wanted for Murder   CBP Aircraft Coordinates Vessel Interdiction; Major Load of Cocaine Seized ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

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Yuma, Arizona – Despite the high winds and rain brought on by the monsoon season, U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Border Patrol Agents from the Yuma Sector have been hard at work. Over the weekend, agents interdicted 13 illegal aliens smuggling incidents via vehicles, which yielded 144 illegal aliens. A total of 961 illegal aliens were apprehended on Saturday and Sunday throughout Yuma Sector’s area of responsibility.

The weekend smuggling apprehensions began Friday night when Wellton CBP Border Patrol Agents stopped a Ford van northbound on Highway 95 with 23 illegal aliens inside.

On Saturday, Blythe Border Patrol Agents stopped a Ford van in Quartzite with 17 illegal aliens and they took custody of five illegal aliens that were in a Nissan sedan stopped by La Paz County Sheriffs in Ehrenberg. Wellton agents patrolling Highway 95 stopped a Ford minivan, a Buick sedan and a Ford sedan northbound on Highway 95 with a total of nine illegal aliens inside. The same day, Yuma agents stopped a Ford pickup along the Colorado River with 13 illegal aliens, a Toyota Tacoma with 12 illegal aliens near San Luis and a Chevrolet pickup with 13 illegal aliens near Winterhaven.

On Sunday, Blythe agents stopped a Ford minivan in Quartzite with six illegal aliens and Wellton agents stopped a Chevrolet sedan with three illegal aliens on Highway 95. The same day, Yuma agents stopped a Ford Bronco containing 18 illegal aliens near San Luis and a Ford van containing 25 illegal aliens near the Andrade Port of Entry.

Since the beginning of fiscal year 2005, the Yuma Sector Border Patrol has seized 1030 vehicles involved in alien smuggling. Anyone with information concerning alien smuggling activity is encouraged to call the Yuma Border Patrol at 1-866-999-USBP.

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.