CBP Officers at San Ysidro Port Discover Three Migrant Smuggling Attempts

Thursday, July 24, 2008

San Ysidro, Calif. - Three drivers and a passenger were arrested and charged with alien smuggling early Wednesday morning after U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro port of entry discovered undocumented Mexican citizens concealed within compartments on their vehicles, officials announced today.

The three cross-border drivers, two U.S. citizens and a Mexican national, and a U.S. citizen passenger in one car face prosecution in federal court for the alleged smuggling attempts. The five undocumented aliens ultimately will be returned to Mexico.

The first attempt occurred about 12:20 a.m. when CBP officers inspecting a white 1993 Chevrolet Lumina bearing California plates discovered a compartment in the undercarriage of the car. Once it was opened, officers found a 23-year-old Mexican male and his 18-year-old sister hidden inside the compartment.

The driver, a 44-year-old female U.S. citizen, and her passenger, a 47-year-old male U.S. citizen, both Oceanside residents, were arrested by CBP officers. The vehicle was seized by CBP.

A half hour later, officers discovered another hidden undercarriage compartment on a 1990 Pontiac Transport that concealed two Mexican women, ages 27 and 33. Officers inspected the vehicle because the driver appeared very nervous.

The female driver, a U.S. citizen who resides in Chula Vista, was arrested and the vehicle was seized.

The third smuggling attempt was discovered at about 3:15 a.m. when CBP officers discovered a 49-year-old Mexican female hidden inside the dashboard of a 1993 Mercury Villager.