CBP Agents Say The Aircraft Fired On Them After Crossing The Border

A Mexican military helicopter has reportedly crossed the border with the U.S. and fired on border patrol agents on the U.S. side, though the Mexican government denies the aircraft shot at the U.S. personnel.

The Associated Press reports that the incident came during a drug interdiction operation on the Tohono O’odham Indian Nation early Thursday morning. The report indicates that after firing on the U.S. Border Patrol agents, the aircraft returned to Mexican airspace.

Mexican officials say the helicopters came under attack during a search for drug smugglers at the border, and deny that the aircraft fired on U.S. agents. The director of the Mexican attorney general’s office investigative office Tomas Zeron said no weapons were discharged at all, and the aircraft stayed in Mexican airspace during the entire operation. He did say that "criminals" fired on the helicopter.

But Border Patrol Tucson Sector union president Art Del Cueto told television station KVOA-TV that Mexican authorities called and apologized for the incident. He said that there were four agents in a marked patrol vehicle, and that there were shots fired at the vehicle. Border Patrol spokesman Andy Adame also said that there were shots fired at the border agents, but no injuries or damage to U.S. property were reported.”

FMI: www.cbp.gov