People hid in water tank truck in Yuma human smuggling operation

YUMA, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - Witnesses captured cellphone video of a human smuggling operation in Yuma on Monday. A group of people inside a water tank truck could be seen coming out from under and on top of the tank.

Sid Putrus said he saw it all unfold from the corner of his liquor store. “Too many police cars, police patrols, and I went outside. One by one they came out, some of them were close to the driver,” he said.

A witness who captured another angle of the arrest said border patrol agents got down from their vehicles in the middle of traffic and pointed guns at the truck and a second black car.

Arizona’s Family contacted the Yuma Border Patrol for comment but have not heard back. However, Arizona’s U.S. Attorney’s Office has been working with Tucson and Yuma sectors to prosecute human smuggling operations.

According to recent data published on their website from July to September 2023, about 1,200 people who illegally entered the U.S. were charged in Arizona. Over 250 cases were also filed against human smugglers for bringing undocumented people to and within the district of Arizona. Those numbers do not reflect people seeking asylum at the U.S. border.

According to CBP’s recent numbers, Arizona saw some of its highest numbers for this fiscal year. Over 60,000 undocumented people were apprehended by border patrol at the Arizona-Mexico border.

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