AZ Gov Hobbs Rocked by Human Smuggling Scandal Inside Her Administration [WATCH]

A former employee of the Arizona Department of Agriculture (AZDA) has been arrested at the southern border on charges of human smuggling, creating new political challenges for Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and her administration.

Joshua Castro, a former produce inspector for the AZDA, now faces both felony and misdemeanor federal charges after U.S. Border Patrol agents apprehended him earlier this month for allegedly transporting illegal aliens across the U.S.-Mexico border, according to KOLD News 13.

Federal documents filed by the U.S. District Attorney for Arizona state that Castro was first spotted on April 9 driving away at high speed from a known human smuggling route near Nogales.

Border Patrol agents later intercepted the same vehicle after observing two additional passengers inside, who were determined to be Mexican nationals who had paid significant sums to be smuggled into the United States.

KOLD reported that during the incident, Castro was wearing his state-issued uniform, despite being off-duty.

According to details from KOLD:

On April 9, Border Patrol agents observed a black Chevrolet Impala leaving a known smuggling area near Nogales and entering Interstate 19, engaging in driving behaviors aimed at detecting law enforcement surveillance.

The following evening, agents again spotted the same vehicle in the area of Hereford Drive and International Street but lost visual contact. At that time, only the driver was visible.

Agents later observed the same vehicle returning, this time with two passengers seated in the back. Border Patrol agents initiated a traffic stop on the interstate.

The driver, identified as Castro, claimed he did not know the passengers and said they had simply asked for a ride.

However, further investigation revealed that both men were Mexican citizens who had illegally entered the United States.

One of the individuals told agents he paid approximately 150,000 Mexican pesos — about $7,600 in U.S. dollars — to be smuggled across the border. He reported that after crossing illegally, he was instructed to walk to a specific location near a red house, where a black car would pick him up.

The second individual reported a similar process, stating he agreed to pay $12,000 to be smuggled into the U.S.

Following his arrest, Castro was terminated from his position with the Arizona Department of Agriculture.