A joint operation between the El Centro and Yuma Border Patrol sectors has resulted in the arrest of a suspected alien smuggler Tuesday night.

It's called Operation Blazing Sands and it's designed to alleviate the dangers of illegal border crossings , especially during the summer months. On Tuesday night at about 9:00 p.m. Border Patrol agents observed a group of 5 individuals illegally enter the United States before getting into a vehicle on Interstate 8 , west of Yuma. The vehicle drove west on Interstate 8 and Border Patrol agents began a pursuit. The vehicle was stopped in Brawley where the driver and the passengers were taken into custody. According to the Border Patrol , Operation Blazing Sands intends to identify trends and vulnerabilities of transnational criminal organizations , with synchronized enforcement between the El Centro and Yuma sectors.