PINE VALLEY: U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested a 21-year-old woman for allegedly smuggling a Mexican national in the trunk of a Toyota Camry yesterday at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint near Pine Valley, Calif.
At about 6:30 p.m., a Border Patrol agent and his canine partner were conducting pre-primary inspections at the checkpoint and encountered the Toyota Camry, which was driven by the woman. As the vehicle was being driven towards the primary inspection, the canine alerted to trunk.
An agent conducting the primary inspection requested to search the vehicle. The woman consented to the search, which resulted in the discovery of a 39-year-old man who was laying down in a fetal position. Agents arrested the driver and the smuggled individual.
“Thanks to the vigilance of Campo Station Border Patrol Agents working at the Interstate 8 Checkpoint, this individual was rescued and the smuggler will face prosecution,” said David BeMiller, Patrol Agent in Charge.
The woman is currently in federal custody, facing human smuggling charges. The Toyota Camry 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.
