Sean McGoffin, Border Patrol Chief of the Tucson Sector, said that Nogales agents arrested a Phoenix delivery driver for attempting to smuggle five undocumented individuals in a van. The statement was made on X.
“Your human cargo is NOT out for delivery; it was returned to sender!….Kinda,” said Sean Mcgoffin. “Nogales Border Patrol agents disrupted a human smuggling attempt that was perpetrated by a parcel delivery employee.”
Recent incidents indicate that smugglers in Arizona are increasingly using delivery or work vehicles to conceal migrants at the U.S.–Mexico border. According to Tucson Sector leaders, in August 2025, Nogales agents stopped a smuggling attempt involving a parcel delivery employee. Other cases involved migrants hidden in trucks and car trunks near I-19 checkpoints. These tactics reflect a broader pattern of smugglers exploiting commercial traffic to bypass inspection, as reported by KOLD 13 News and Tucson Sector officials.
In late 2024, federal prosecutors filed 309 human smuggling cases in Arizona during the fourth quarter, highlighting ongoing pressure in the Tucson Sector. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for Arizona also reported 3,141 illegal entry/reentry charges in that same period, noting that enforcement remains a top priority. These numbers underscore how smuggling prosecutions remain high despite fluctuating border encounters, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.
Tucson Sector’s weekly updates in 2025 show smuggling interdictions split between checkpoint inspections and highway patrol stops. Posts cite 18–26 smuggling events per week, with I-19 checkpoints catching concealed passengers while agents on patrol intercept loads in desert corridors near Lukeville and Sonoita. This contrast shows checkpoints intercept organized attempts while patrols disrupt evasive smuggling routes, as reported by Tucson Sector “Week in Review” updates.
McGoffin began his career in Arizona in 1996 and has nearly three decades with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He previously led the Yuma, Havre (Montana), and Big Bend (Texas) sectors before returning to Tucson as chief. McGoffin frequently highlights checkpoint enforcement, rescues, and smuggling disruption as top priorities, according to Arizona Public Media.
