Nineteen 'spies who helped drug smugglers and human traffickers enter the U.S. across the Mexican border' are arrested at a makeshift mountain camp
- A four-day operation between Mexican and American federal saw 19 people arrested near the Mexico-U.S. border
- Six of the suspects were Honduran nationals who were part of a group known as 'halcones', a Spanish term for spies
- The suspects worked for a cartel and also provided logistics for human traffickers that operated along the southern border
- Agents also uncovered and destroyed a poppy field, and seized 250 pounds of drugs, long-range weapons and tactical communication systems
A joint national sting between Mexican and U.S. federal agents captured a group of spies who were helping drug smugglers and human traffickers cross the border.
The four-day operation concluded last week and led to the arrest of 19 'punteros' or 'halcones', a Spanish term for spies, who made a hideout in a mountainous region in northwestern Mexican state of Sonora.
According to a statement from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection [CBP], six of the suspects were Honduran nationals with ties to criminal organizations.
Last week, a joint national sting between Mexican and United States federal agents dismantled a group that acted as spies to aid the operation of drug and human traffickers across the border
Federal agents from the United States and Mexico arrested 19 'punteros' or 'halcones', a Spanish term for spies
Federal authorities from Mexico aboard a helicopters also located and destroyed a poppy field (seen above) near the southern border crossing line that separates Sonora and Arizona
Some of the suspects fled from Mexican authorities in the city of Nogales before they were apprehended by CBP agents as they tried to make a run for the U.S.
The investigation also uncovered 250 pounds of drugs, long-range weapons and tactical communication systems.
DailyMail reached out to the CBP for comment.
Federal authorities from Mexico aboard a helicopters also located and destroyed a poppy field near the southern border crossing line that separates Sonora and Arizona.
The CBP said the drugs from the harvest were being ferried across the border by the same criminal network that had set up the camp site.
'Bi-national collaboration is crucial in ensuring the safety for communities on both side of the border,' said Roy Villareal, Tucson Sector Chief Patrol Agent.
Border Patrol agents been canvassing the southern border for groups that providing surveillance for human and drug traffickers
The CBP and the Mexican Federal Police combined their efforts to arrest a group of 19 who were providing logistics to drug and human traffickers
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'The disruption of endeavors by dangerous criminal organizations who profit from the misery of others will always one of the enforcement goals of Tucson Sector.'
In April, CBP agents busted nine Mexicans with alleged ties to cartel that operated along a neighboring area between Mexico and Arizona.
The group spied for a criminal organization and provided surveillance of border officials near Camp Grip with high-tech gadgets such as solar panels, radios, telescopes and high-range binoculars.
In April, CBP agents busted nine Mexicans with alleged ties to cartel that operated along a neighboring area between Mexico and Arizona. Equipment uncovered in the April operation is seen above
