TUCSON, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents from the Nogales Station arrested a woman and two illegal aliens Tuesday evening at the Immigration Checkpoint located on Interstate 19 near Amado.
The agent working the primary inspections lane encountered a Toyota Corolla driven by a 25-year-old woman. The Tucson resident was referred to the secondary inspection lane where a canine alerted to an odor it was trained to detect.
Agents searched the vehicle and discovered two male Mexican nationals hiding in the trunk of the vehicle. Both were illegally present in the United States. They were arrested and processed for immigration violations.
The vehicle was seized and the United States citizen driver is facing human smuggling charges.
Federal law allows agents to charge individuals by complaint, a method that allows the filing of charges for criminal activity without inferring guilt. An individual is presumed innocent unless or until competent evidence is presented to a jury that establishes guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials welcome assistance from the community. Citizens can report suspicious activity to the Border Patrol and remain anonymous by calling 1-877-872-7435 toll free. Reporting illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.