Border Patrol captures cloned county truck.
El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Calexico Station detained a man driving a cloned Imperial Irrigation District truck which was possibly involved with illegal alien smuggling near the Calexico East Port of Entry on Monday night.
At approximately 7:37 p.m., Border Patrol agents received an internal radio notification that a group of individuals entered illegally into the United States via one of IID’s hydro-electric plants positioned across the All-American Canal.
Agents responded to the area and observed a truck bearing IID logos, with a driver inside, parked near the location where the suspected illegal aliens were noticed.
Agents approached the stationary truck to further investigate its legitimacy.
After a brief investigation, it was determined that the truck was a not an official IID truck.
Furthermore, agents determined that the truck belonged to an insurance company out of Arizona and that the IID decals were counterfeit. Agents talked to the driver of the cloned vehicle who admitted to be involved in an immigrant-smuggling scheme.
Agents notified Imperial County Sheriff’s Office and an officer responded to the area.
The officers impounded the truck for bearing a fictitious license plate. The man, an 18-year-old United States citizen, was taken to the Calexico Border Patrol Station for further investigation and interview.
Soon after, agents arrested six illegal aliens near the area suspected of being involved with the cloned vehicle.