Eloy, AZ – A cooperative effort between multiple law enforcement agencies led to the rescue of an 8-year-old boy from a suspected trafficker in southern Arizona.

The incident began late Wednesday night when Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels and other state and federal authorities were alerted to a suspected child smuggling case. The suspect reportedly crossed the border into Cochise County and was traveling through Pinal County toward the Phoenix area.

Around 10 p.m., a Pinal County deputy spotted the suspect’s vehicle near Eloy. The car, bearing a Mexican license plate, was stopped by a multi-agency task force. Inside were a woman and two children, including the 8-year-old boy.

Deputies from Cochise County and officers from Customs and Border Protection also responded. The vehicle was seized while being checked for narcotics, and the woman was placed in a nearby motel room.

During questioning, the woman gave inconsistent statements, while the boy appeared to provide “clearly coached answers,” Sheriff Dannels said. Investigators say the woman confessed to trafficking the boy for money. The other child in the car was reportedly her own daughter, and she claimed not to know the boy’s family or final destination beyond Phoenix.

The woman, whose identity has not been released, is now in federal custody as authorities continue their investigation.

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