TUCSON, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol arrested a motorist and her passenger suspected of alien smuggling at the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint near Amado last Thursday (June 11).
Border Patrol agents at the Interstate 19 traffic checkpoint arrested the driver of this vehicle after it was determined that she was attempting to smuggle an illegal alien behind the seat.
At around noon, Nogales Station agents operating the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint encountered the driver of a Chevrolet Silverado and her passengers. Agents conducted an immigration inspection on one of the passengers, a resident alien, when the driver quickly became uncooperative. Border Patrol agents directed the driver to a secondary area for further inspection but she refused to move.
Officers from the Arizona Department of Public Safety were called and arrived on scene to assist agents. Agents soon discovered an adult Mexican national hiding inside the cab of the truck, laying on the floor behind the seat.
The driver and one of the passengers were arrested and face smuggling charges. The illegal immigrant and vehicle were processed in accordance with Tucson Sector guidelines.
Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents have discovered 14 individuals from the cab or trunks of vehicles within the past two weeks as temperatures across Arizona continue to rise.