TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested one U.S. citizen and four illegal border crossers in the pursuit and recovery of a stolen vehicle near Rio Rico, Arizona, Wednesday.
Around 3 p.m., Tucson Sector agents observed a vehicle near the border in a remote area south of Sonoita, Arizona. Records checks revealed the 2014 Audi Q5 had been reported stolen.
As agents attempted a traffic stop, the vehicle failed to yield, leading to a pursuit that concluded at a gas station in Rio Rico. The vehicle’s driver fled into the gas station while its four passengers ran into a nearby wooded area.
All five people were quickly located and arrested without further incident. The stolen vehicle and its U.S. citizen driver were turned over to the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. The four illegal border crossers were expelled into Mexico via Title 42 authority.
The U.S. Border Patrol’s law enforcement mission persists in the wake of the ongoing global pandemic. Tucson Sector agents continue to safely, vigilantly safeguard our nation’s borders and border communities against a variety of criminal activities, including human trafficking and drug smuggling.
For more details regarding this news release, contact the Tucson Sector Public Affairs Office at tca-pao@cbp.dhs.gov or by phone at 520-748-3210. Tucson Sector is also LiveU capable. Contact us to schedule an interview.