On Dec. 15, 2016, Border Patrol agents seized three vehicles in Boulevard, Calif. A Toyota Sequoia, one of three vehicles that were seized. Photo courtesy U.S. Border Patrol.
On Dec. 15, 2016, Border Patrol agents seized three vehicles in Boulevard, Calif. A Toyota Sequoia, one of three vehicles that were seized. Photo courtesy U.S. Border Patrol.

Three vehicles packed with “human contraband” were intercepted Thursday night by U.S. Border Patrol, San Diego Sector agents in Boulevard, authorities are reporting.

The bust took place at approximately 9 p.m. at the Boulevard station as the vehicles attempted to travel northward.

Agents tracked the lead smuggler’s vehicle, a white Toyota Sequoia; a white Chevrolet Silverado and a third vehicle attempted to flee agents and return to Mexico but both were nabbed as well, according to a U.S. Border Patrol statement.

A white Chevrolet Silverado was the second of three vehicles seized Dec. 15, 2016 . Photo courtesy U.S. Border Patrol.
A white Chevrolet Silverado was the second of three vehicles seized Dec. 15, 2016. Photo courtesy U.S. Border Patrol.

In total, 25 people were arrested, the three vehicles seized, but five other people escaped back to Mexico, according to the statement.

“The 25 individuals that were arrested and taken from the smugglers equates to about $150,000.00 in proceeds that the smugglers will not be able cash in,” the statement read.

U.S. Border Patrol officials say these types of smuggling operations are often orchestrated by the Tomas Lara-Sanchez transnational criminal organization.