Someone on the Mexican side of the border aimed a laser at a Homeland Security helicopter that was patrolling along the boundary this month, the U.S. government said Tuesday.

The AS350 helicopter, flown by Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations, was targeted three times by the laser fired from a vehicle on the Mexican bank of the Rio Grande.

Agents in the chopper had to take evasive maneuvers but nobody was injured, CBP said.

“When laser beams are aimed at any piloted aircraft, whether military or commercial, what might seem like a tiny beam on the ground can blind aircrew, potentially causing a midair collision or other incident,” the agency said.

CBP said that was one of six incidents in the past four months involving lasers aimed at AMO aircraft.

Not all of them are along the border.

On Jan. 9, another AS350 helicopter flying over Jacksonville, Florida, was blasted by a laser. CBP said one person was arrested and faces state charges in that incident.

• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.