Two men have been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly surveilling U.S. Border Patrol officers in Arizona as part of a migrant smuggling ring.
According to NewsNation, a federal grand jury in Phoenix has indicted two men caught monitoring U.S. Border Patrol movements from an Arizona mountain peak, allegedly working as spotters for migrant smuggling organizations.
The suspects, identified as Mexican citizen Geovani Alexis Teran Olguin and Guatemalan national Juan Marroquin Jaime, were apprehended on February 25 while conducting surveillance operations from Solo Peak in the West Silver Bell Mountains. The location, situated south of Eloy and just north of the Tohono O'Odham Nation reservation, has been a known vantage point for smuggling organizations to track law enforcement activities.
Border Patrol agents discovered the suspects at approximately 9 a.m., spotting two individuals in camouflage gear using binoculars atop Solo Peak. The discovery prompted immediate action, with agents requesting backup and beginning their ascent of the mountain while a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations helicopter provided aerial support.
The suspects attempted to evade capture by hiding, but agents successfully surrounded and apprehended both men. During the arrest, authorities seized crucial evidence, including two sets of high-power binoculars, six silver solar panels, a two-way radio, and a charger.
The arrest marked a significant breakthrough in disrupting smuggling operations that rely on sophisticated surveillance techniques to evade law enforcement. The solar-powered equipment suggested a well-organized and sustained monitoring operation.
During separate interrogations at the Casa Grande Border Patrol station, Marroquin provided investigators with detailed information about the smuggling operation's payment structure. According to court documents, Marroquin revealed his employment arrangement with a Mexican smuggling organization.
The payment system was based on successful migrant crossings, with scouts receiving compensation for each person who successfully reached Phoenix. Marroquin disclosed that his rate was 800 pesos, approximately $40 per successful crossing.
Marroquin's statements also implicated Teran, indicating that his co-defendant commanded a higher rate of 1,000 pesos, or about $50 per successful crossing. This information suggested a tiered payment system within the smuggling organization.
The federal prosecution has moved forward with conspiracy charges against both defendants for their alleged roles in facilitating illegal border crossings. Prosecutors have also initiated proceedings to forfeit the surveillance equipment recovered from Solo Peak.
Initial questioning revealed that Teran had crossed into the U.S. with four other individuals who were either captured or abandoned during their journey. When confronted with Marroquin's statements, Teran exercised his right to remain silent and requested legal representation.
The investigation has exposed the sophisticated methods employed by smuggling organizations, including the use of strategic observation posts and communication equipment to coordinate migrant movements and avoid law enforcement detection.
Two men accused of working as spotters for migrant smuggling organizations were apprehended during a surveillance operation on Solo Peak in Arizona's West Silver Bell Mountains. Geovani Alexis Teran Olguin from Mexico and Juan Marroquin Jaime from Guatemala now face federal conspiracy charges for their alleged roles in facilitating illegal border crossings. The case reveals the complex payment structures and surveillance tactics employed by smuggling organizations, with spotters receiving compensation for each successful migrant crossing to Phoenix. Both suspects await further legal proceedings as authorities move to forfeit the seized surveillance equipment used in their operation.
