U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Yuma Sector were busy over the Presidents Day weekend.

Thursday morning a Border Patrol canine alerted to a car at the Interstate 8 checkpoint east of Yuma. When agents opened the trunk of the car they found three Mexican nationals hiding there. A fourth Mexican national was hiding in the back seat of the car. Agents also found a loaded handgun and personal use amounts of methamphetamine , narcotic pills , marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Agents arrested the driver and a passenger , both U.S. citizens , on various charges. 

Sunday afternoon Border Patrol agents apprehended a group of eight Mexican nationals in the desert several miles southeast of Yuma. The group was carrying backpacks that contained a total of 148 pounds of methamphetamine. The group were all wearing camouflage and carper booties over their shoes in an attempt to avoid detection. The meth has a street value of more than a quarter of a million dollars. 

A bit later Sunday , agents rescued two illegal immigrants who had entered the Salinity Canal near County 17 1/2 Street. Agents using a rescue disc were able to pull the two from the swift water of the canal.  The pair were identified as Cuban nationals , aged 22- and 23- years old.