PINE VALLEY, Calif.—U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a 31-year-old man after he allegedly attempted to smuggle four Mexican nationals last night through the Border Patrol checkpoint near Pine Valley, Calif.
At about 11:30 p.m., an agent conducting inspections at the checkpoint encountered the man driving a 2002 Nissan Sentra, along with two male passengers. During the initial inspection, the agent questioned the citizenship status of the three occupants. The driver responded that he is a U.S. citizen, but the two passengers did not respond.
The agent then inspected the trunk of the vehicle after he received consent from the driver. The inspection of the trunk revealed two male Mexican nationals who were lying down in a fetal position. The four passengers were determined to be in the U.S. illegally and were taken into custody.
In response to this incident, Pete Vasquez, Acting Patrol Agent in Charge of the Campo Border Patrol Station said, “Human smuggling is extremely dangerous and the smugglers we encounter have no regard for the safety and well-being of the people they exploit. I commend the Campo Station personnel for their diligence and hard work in bringing this event to a successful law enforcement conclusion.”
The driver is currently in custody, facing federal human smuggling charges. The Nissan Sentra was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.
To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our Nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.