Chinese national accused of smuggling migrants

A 22-year-old Chinese national was arrested at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday at the Calexico east port of entry after two Chinese nationals were discovered hidden in the trunk of the vehicle he was driving.

Jiasong Ou, who possessed a tourist visa, was instructed by a Customs and Border Protection officer to open the trunk of the vehicle during primary inspection, a federal court complaint stated.

Upon opening the trunk, the CBP officer observed two individuals in the trunk, the court complaint stated. Further investigation revealed the two individuals were Chinese nationals who were not authorized to enter the United States, the court complaint stated.

One of the Chinese nationals reportedly told CBP officers that he had paid $40,000 to be smuggled across the border, while the other said he paid $1,000, the court complaint stated.

Ou was booked into jail by CBP personnel and Alexis Ivon Ortega was referred to secondary inspection where a Customs and Border Protection canine detection team alerted to the vehicle’s gas tank, a federal court complaint stated.

Further inspection revealed a total of 100 packages of methamphetamine weighing about 76 pounds hidden within the vehicle’s gas tank and a quarter panel, the court complaint stated.

Ortega was booked into county jail by Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations personnel and held without bail.