SANTA TERESA, N.M. – Four men were arrested by U.S. Border Patrol El Paso Sector agents while attempting to smuggle drugs in a remote area of New Mexico over the weekend.

Late Saturday evening, Santa Teresa station Border Patrol agents were alerted to a group of four subjects carrying several large backpacks from Mexico into the U.S. Agents responded to the area and engaged in a foot pursuit. Camera operators assisted the agents in pinpointing the location of the fleeing Mexican nationals and they were taken into custody. Agents also recovered the three backpacks with the suspected contraband at a pickup location nearby.

Agents contacted the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office and prosecution was accepted for the three adult males. The fourth individual is a juvenile that will be expelled back to Mexico.

ALAMOGORDO, N.M. – Earlier in the day, a gray Jeep Wrangler with one male occupant entered the primary inspection area at the Alamogordo Border Patrol Station checkpoint. During their investigation, agents requested and were granted permission to conduct a search of the vehicle. Another agent inspecting the vehicle notified fellow agents to conduct a more thorough physical search of the vehicle after his canine partner alerted to the possible presence of narcotics.

Border Patrol agents discovered an assortment of drugs and paraphernalia during the search. The driver of the rental vehicle was identified as a 27-year-old U.S. citizen. He was turned over to the Otero County Sheriff’s Department for prosecution.

“Our Border Patrol Agents are tireless in their continued efforts to keep criminals and illegal narcotics out of our community” said Chief Patrol Agent Gloria I. Chavez, El Paso Sector Border Patrol.

The men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol seek to disrupt the drug smuggling operations along the border and at immigration checkpoints within the United States. They aim to keep dangerous drugs out of the neighborhoods and communities where they live and work.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-635-2509.

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter at @USBPChiefEPT and @CBPWestTexas.