November 2, 09

NEWS / Border Patrol Arrests 32 in Hidden in Back of Tractor-Trailer

Jamul, Calif. — U.S. Border Patrol agents uncovered a mass smuggling ploy in Jamul, Calif. yesterday morning, when two men were found to be smuggling 30 illegal aliens inside the back of a tractor-trailer.

At about 10:15 a.m., the two suspected smugglers arrived at a Border Patrol checkpoint inside the cab of the truck. During the inspection, an agent discovered that the driver did not possess a commercial driver’s license and the passenger was in the country illegally.


The agents then directed the semi-truck to secondary inspection, where a search was conducted of the trailer. After the agents discovered a trap door on the undercarriage of the trailer, they found 30 illegal aliens hiding inside a modified compartment, which was concealed by a several pieces of furniture wrapped in cellophane.


The group of smuggled aliens included 24 males, four females and one juvenile boy, all of whom are Mexican nationals. In addition, one male citizen of Argentina was among the group of smuggled aliens.


The two suspected smugglers, both of whom are Mexican nationals, are being held in federal custody pending charges for aliens smuggling.

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/news_releases/10302009.xml