Border Patrol Arrests 95 Truck Drivers With State-Issued CDLs During Arizona Operation

Most of the commercial driver's licenses identified during a recent federal enforcement operation in Arizona were issued by California, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

U.S. Border Patrol agents and local law enforcement partners conducted the operation in the Yuma area from August 10 through August 14. The operation targeted human smuggling, drug smuggling and other organized illegal activity.

Authorities arrested 143 people from 18 countries. Among them were 95 people CBP described as truck drivers who were unlawfully present in the United States and possessed state-issued commercial driver's licenses.

According to CBP, 76 of the CDLs were issued by California, while another six were issued by New York. The remaining commercial licenses came from other states, but CBP did not provide a complete state-by-state breakdown.

The wider operation also resulted in the arrests of four suspected smugglers and 17 smuggled individuals. Authorities reported seizing one firearm, 74 pounds of methamphetamine and 169 pounds of marijuana.

CBP did not say that the drug or human-smuggling cases were connected to the 95 CDL holders. The agency also did not identify the drivers, their employers or any motor carriers associated with them.