Sean McGoffin, Chief Border Patrol Agent of the Tucson Sector, reported that agents intercepted a Georgia driver attempting to smuggle four Mexican nationals after illegally crossing the border. The statement was made on X.
“Georgia man was planning to smuggle but his attempt falls flat,” said Sean Mcgoffin, Border Patrol Chief.
According to Arizona Border Patrol agents near Naco, a recent human smuggling attempt involved six undocumented migrants concealed in a vehicle. The incident occurred in August 2025 at an immigration checkpoint on State Route 80, where agents discovered the individuals following a canine alert. This event is part of a broader trend of smuggling interdictions in Cochise County, as reported by KGUN 9 News.
In fiscal year 2024, Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents halted over 1,000 vehicle-based human smuggling attempts, many involving high-speed pursuits along Arizona highways. These interdictions often rely on surveillance technology and joint operations with local law enforcement. The statistics were provided by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in an official release.
Human smuggling prosecutions in Arizona remain significant, with 1,425 cases filed in federal court during fiscal year 2023, making it one of the top districts for such prosecutions. The majority involved transportation or harboring of undocumented migrants. This trend was documented by the U.S. Sentencing Commission in its 2023 annual report.
McGoffin has been Chief Patrol Agent of the Tucson Sector since late 2024 and began his Border Patrol career in 1996 in Tucson. He has served as chief in Havre, Montana; Big Bend, Texas; and Yuma, Arizona before returning to lead the sector. His career path was profiled by Arizona Public Media in November 2024.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security, is tasked with safeguarding the nation’s borders and preventing illegal entry, as outlined on its history webpage. Since its establishment in 1924, CBP has operated across 328 ports of entry, protecting 7,000 miles of land borders and 95,000 miles of maritime borders.
