Mexican Federal Police flying cross border Blackhawk helicopter missions out of AZ.

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ICE, federales involved in cross-border operation near Lukeville

Posted Jan 29, 2016, 12:44 pm
Paul IngramTucsonSentinel.com

Agents with U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement are involved in a cross-border operation near Lukeville, Arizona.

An official with U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed the operation, but said that ICE was leading the cross-border effort that includes Blackhawk helicopters flown by Mexican Federal Police.

An ICE spokeswoman, Gillian Christensen, said in an email that she would "circle back" with a response when she was at liberty to do so.

KVOA reporter Michel Marizco said that at 7 a.m. Mexican federal police helicopters launched from Arizona into the border city of Sonoyta, Sonora, just across the line from Lukeville. Choppers have made several trips back and forth across the border throughout the day.

The Lukeville crossing, about 110 miles southwest of Tucson, is astride the road to Puerto Peñasco, also known as Rocky Point.

About 50 agents from CBP, ICE and the Arizona Department of Public Safety were gathered at a staging area in Lukeville, Marizco said.

Despite the law enforcement activity, the border crossing remained open Friday.

Check back for updates.

http://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/...ear-lukeville/

Posted: Jan 29, 2016 8:29 AM PST
Updated: Jan 29, 2016 8:29 AM PST

N4T Investigators: Cross-border operation

Written By Michel Marizco CONNECT

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LUKEVILLE, Ariz.- The News 4 Tucson Investigators are in Mexico awaiting further information about a cross-border operation involving U.S. and Mexico law-enforcement.

At 7 a.m., Mexican Federal Police Blackhawk helicopters launched from Arizona into the border city of Sonoyta, Sonora across from Lukeville.

About 50 agents from Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Department of Public Safety are gathered at a staging area in Lukeville.

Agents are patrolling the rooftop of the port of entry and others are standing guard along the border. One Mexican Blackhawk returned to the United States.

We are awaiting word from Washington, D.C. and Mexico City about this operation.

http://www.kvoa.com/story/31091114/n...rder-operation

US agencies assist Mexico government in arrest near border

By - Associated Press - Friday, January 29, 2016

LUKEVILLE, Ariz. (AP) - U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement say they have assisted the Mexican government in a cross-border arrest operation near the Arizona border.

Spokeswoman Gillian M. Christensen says ICE and several other law enforcement agencies in both Arizona and Mexico participated in an arrest operation in Sonoyta, Mexico. Sonoyta sits on the border with Lukeville, Arizona, and is the throughway to Puerto Peñasco, a beach destination for many Americans that is also known as Rocky Point.

Christensen said ICE was assisting Mexican authorities in an operation targeting criminal organizations in and around Sonoyta but would not release any information about whether an arrest was actually made.

She said this was an ongoing investigation.

Media reported several American helicopters going between Lukeville and Mexico and a heavy law enforcement presence.

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/...in-arrest-nea/

22 arrested, 2 dead after Sonora gunfight

All are presumed members of the Sinaloa Cartel

Mexico News Daily | Saturday, January 30, 2016
A firefight in the desert of Sonora has resulted in the capture of 22 presumed members of the Sinaloa Cartel, and the deaths of two others.

Several weeks of intelligence work by the Federal Police, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and other U.S. agencies revealed the location of a cartel operations center in Sonoyta, in the municipality of Plutarco Elías Calles.

The property was used for warehousing drugs and holding migrants who had been captured while heading for the nearby U.S. border.

When federal agents approached the stronghold on land, and with the support of Blackhawk helicopters, gang members responded with high-caliber weapons fire. But 22 gave up their arms after two of the gunmen were killed.

Police seized 18 firearms, 15 of them assault rifles, and some 250 kilograms of marijuana.

- See more at: http://mexiconewsdaily.com/news/22-a....5LehJbgx.dpuf