Skip to main content

An official website of the United States government

  • 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    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.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. Laredo Sector Border Patrol halted a human smuggling attempt at the I-35 checkpoint

Laredo Sector Border Patrol halted a human smuggling attempt at the I-35 checkpoint

Release Date
Wed, 02/01/2023

LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents halted a human smuggling attempt at the I-35 checkpoint.

 On Jan. 31, Border Patrol agents while working their assigned duties at the I-35 checkpoint, encountered a tractor-trailer at the primary inspection lane when a Service canine alerted to the trailer.  Border Patrol agents subsequently referred the driver to secondary. After further inspection at secondary, Border Patrol agents discovered 18 individuals inside the trailer.

 Record checks revealed that the individuals were in the country illegally. They were from the countries of El Salvador, Honduras and Mexico. The driver and undocumented individuals were taken into custody and processed accordingly. 

  U.S. Customs and Border Protection welcomes assistance from the community. Citizens are encouraged to report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol while remaining anonymous by calling 1-800-343-1994.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.

Last Modified: Jan 27, 2025