Skip to main content

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. Border Patrol Agents Rescue 3 Illegal Aliens From Hidden Compartment, Arrest Smuggler

Border Patrol Agents Rescue 3 Illegal Aliens From Hidden Compartment, Arrest Smuggler

Release Date
Mon, 10/02/2017

DEL RIO, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Carrizo Springs Station arrested a man attempting to smuggle three people inside an after-market vehicle compartment with only inches of room.

The subjects were located in a small, fabricated compartment with no room to move and poor ventilation.
The subjects were located in a small,
fabricated compartment with no room
to move and poor ventilation.

“Smuggling organizations continually disregard human safety in the cowardly pursuit of profit,” said Acting Chief Patrol Agent Matthew J. Hudak, Del Rio Sector. “Thanks to the vigilance of our agents, this life-threatening situation was successfully resolved.”

On Sept. 28, Border Patrol agents from Carrizo Springs Station performed a vehicle stop on a 2000 Chevrolet Suburban. With the assistance of a Dimmit County Sheriff canine, agents discovered three individuals hidden inside the vehicle. The subjects were located in a small, fabricated compartment with no room to move and poor ventilation. Agents determined the three individuals – citizens of Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador – were illegally present in the United States.

The driver of the vehicle, a 26-year-old male U.S. Citizen from Houston, was turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for federal prosecution for 8 USC § 1324 – alien smuggling.

The Del Rio Border Patrol Sector is part of the Joint Task Force-West South Texas Corridor, which works with federal, state and local partners to combat transnational criminal organizations. To report suspicious activity, please call the Del Rio Sector’s toll free number at 1-866-511-8727.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021