TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a woman attempting to smuggle two illegal aliens inside her vehicle’s trunk at the I-19 Immigration Checkpoint near Amado, Arizona, late Wednesday afternoon.
A Tucson Sector agent directed a four-door sedan to the checkpoint’s secondary inspection area around 4:45 p.m., following a canine alert in the primary inspection lane. Agents subsequently discovered two illegal aliens locked in the vehicle’s trunk without means of escape. Neither one was wearing a mask.
inside the trunk of a smuggling vehicle
Agents immediately provided the men, both citizens of Mexico, with masks. Fortunately, each was visibly in good health.
The U.S. citizen driver faces federal charges for human smuggling; the two illegal aliens face immigration violation charges.
Smuggling organizations continue to endanger people’s lives by confining individuals in spaces not meant for humans, including trunks, tractor-trailers and toolboxes. Smugglers treat people as cargo. They have no regard for their safety and care only about being paid.
For more details regarding this news release, contact the Tucson Sector Public Affairs Office at tca-pao@cbp.dhs.gov or by phone at 520-748-3210. Tucson Sector is also LiveU capable. Contact us to schedule an interview.