SALTON CITY, Calif. – El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents arrested a man suspected of smuggling seven illegal aliens hidden in the cabin of his tractor-trailer Wednesday morning.
of smuggling seven illegal aliens hidden in the
cabin of his tractor-trailer Wednesday morning.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:12 a.m., when a man driving a white 1995 semi tractor-trailer approached the Highway 86 immigration checkpoint. During an immigration check on the driver, a Border Patrol K-9 detection team alerted to the cabin area of the semi-truck. The driver was directed to the secondary inspection area for further investigation.
During the more intensive inspection, Border Patrol agents searched the cabin area of the semi-truck and discovered seven illegal aliens attempting to conceal themselves. Agents safely removed all of the subjects and conducted welfare checks. The smuggler and all seven illegal aliens were subsequently placed under arrest.
The driver, a 46-year-old United States citizen, was processed administratively for alien smuggling and the semi tractor-trailer was seized.
The illegal aliens, five adult men, one adult female and one unaccompanied male juvenile, all from Mexico, were expelled back to their country of origin after agents conducted criminal background investigations and further medical screenings.
This incident is the 10th of its kind this year in the Imperial Valley. Last month, El Centro Sector agents discovered 13 illegal aliens hidden under hay bales of a tractor-trailer semi-truck.