Border agents increase security near Colorado River to combat reported increase in illegal activity (ABC15.com)

Border agents increase security near Colorado River to combat reported increase in illegal activity
Posted: 10/07/2010
Last Updated: 4 hours and 25 minutes ago

By: Michelle Parks, ABC15.com

YUMA, AZ - Border Patrol Agents are increasing enforcement in Yuma after seeing a reported increase in illegal activity near the Colorado River.

In the past two weeks agents have reportedly arrested 15 suspected illegal immigrants from Mexico entering the U.S. illegally.

Tuesday evening agents arrested two suspected undocumented immigrants. It was later discovered that one of these men was part of the Sureños gang and was helping smuggle the other subject into the country for $1,300.

Patrol agents also arrested four suspects near the river late Wednesday evening who were allegedly smuggling marijuana into the country in backpacks.

Agents tracked a group after detecting seven individuals entering illegally at about 10 p.m. Three members of that group reportedly fled back to Mexico to avoid arrest however agents arrested the remaining four members and discovered they were carrying 294 pounds of marijuana in their backpacks.

The suspects and the estimated $235,200 worth of marijuana were turned over to the Yuma County Narcotics Task Force.