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  4. Nogales Man Arrested for Smuggling 31 People in Tractor-trailer

Nogales Man Arrested for Smuggling 31 People in Tractor-trailer

Release Date
Tue, 09/17/2019

TUCSON, Ariz. – U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint near Amado arrested a truck driver for human smuggling after finding 31 illegal aliens in his tractor-trailer Wednesday night.

A scan of a tractor trailer showed agents 31 Mexican nationals inside.
A scan of a tractor trailer showed agents 31
Mexican nationals inside.

After a Border Patrol canine alerted to the vehicle, agents referred a 2008 Freightliner for secondary inspection, where they discovered and arrested 31 Mexican nationals concealed in the cargo trailer, all illegally present in the country. 

Agents assigned to the I-19 immigration checkpoint discovered 31 Mexican nationals inside the back of a tractor trailer stopped on Wednesday night.
Agents assigned to the I-19
immigration checkpoint discovered 31
Mexican nationals inside the back of a
tractor trailer stopped on Wednesday
night.
 

 The 40-year-old U.S. citizen driver was arrested for human smuggling. The Mexican nationals, ages 15 to 40, will be processed for immigration violations.  

In an effort to prevent fatalities at the hands of smugglers, Department of Homeland Security recently launched “Operation Safeguard” to educate the public and the trucking industry on the life-threatening dangers involved in using commercial conveyances to smuggle humans. 

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021