Human smuggling case: 2 U.S. citizens arrested, 7 Mexican nationals detained

Authorities with the Cochise County Sheriff's Office say deputies arrested two 19-year-old U.S. citizens and seven Mexican nationals during a human smuggling attempt.

This all happened on Feb. 22 along State Route 80 near the New Mexico state line when CCSO deputies initiated a traffic stop on a Jeep Patriot. Deputies contacted Border Patrol agents in the area to assist with the stop due to the number of people in the vehicle.

Department of Homeland Security officials say during processing for immigration violations at the Douglas Border Patrol station, agents identified seven males as Mexican nationals between the ages 19 and 43.

The two U.S. citizens remain in custody and now face federal human smuggling charges.

No names have been released in this case.