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  4. Smugglers desperate attempt sends six to the hospital in the Rio Grande Valley

Smugglers desperate attempt sends six to the hospital in the Rio Grande Valley

Release Date
Tue, 07/10/2018

PENITAS, Texas – U.S. Border Patrol agents assisted local law enforcement with a vehicle pursuit that ended with all subjects sent to the hospital.

Callous smuggler injures innocent civilians
Callous smuggler injures innocent
civilians

On Sunday, the McAllen Border Patrol Station was notified by the Penitas Police Department of a pursuit heading toward McAllen and requested assistance. Border Patrol units and a National Guard helicopter responded to the call and learned the vehicle being pursued, a black Ford Mustang, crashed into a Chevrolet Malibu carrying two passengers. Border Patrol Emergency Medical Technicians arrived to the scene and provided immediate medical attention to the occupants of the Mustang and the Malibu. The driver of the Malibu sustained critical injuries and was air lifted to a hospital. The remaining occupants, including the driver of the Mustang, were transported to a local hospital for medical evaluation.

The investigation revealed that the driver of the Mustang, a 20 year-old United States citizen, evaded authorities because he was smuggling three illegal aliens.

Sullivan City Police Department took custody of the smuggler. All subjects involved with the smuggling event will be processed accordingly.

The case remains under investigation.

The Rio Grande Valley Sector currently has multiple campaigns focused on rescues and danger awareness, such as “Operation Big Rig” and “No Se Arriesgue” to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”   

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter at @CBPRGV.

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