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Woman Arrested for Smuggling Man in Trunk

Release Date
Fri, 06/30/2017

TUCSON, Ariz. – Nogales Station Border Patrol agents working at the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint Wednesday afternoon discovered a 22-year-old Mexican man being smuggled in the trunk of a Nissan sedan.

The man was discovered after agents obtained permission from the driver, a 19-year-old female U.S. citizen, to look inside the trunk during a secondary inspection.

Man hiding in vehicle trunk
Man hiding in trunk of vehicle

Agents arrested both individuals. The driver is being charged for alien smuggling while the Mexican national will face charges for immigration violations.

At the time of the arrest, the outdoor temperature was 102 degrees; which possesses a significant danger to anyone locked in the trunk of a car.

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 and 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. Contacting the Border Patrol to report illicit activity could result in saving someone’s life.

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