Border Patrol arrests Mexican national
Agents say he was smuggling 2 undocumented immigrants in his car
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 8 Immigration Checkpoint near Wellton arrested a Mexican national Monday for allegedly attempting to smuggle two illegal entrants into the country.
According to information provided by agent Justin Kallinger of the Yuma Sector Public Affairs Office, at approximately 9:26 a.m., Wellton Station agents referred a white Ford Fusion to the secondary inspection area after a Border Patrol K-9 in the primary inspection lane positively alerted to an odor it was trained to detect.
After a subsequent search of the vehicle, agents discovered two male subjects lying on the rear passenger floorboard. Both subjects were determined to be in the United States illegally.
The driver, a 31-year-old male residing in Bakersfield, CA., who was also in the country illegally, was processed for alien smuggling.
The two undocumented immigrants were charged with re-entry of removed aliens and the vehicle was seized.
Yuma County residents can help the Border Patrol and U.S. Customs and Border Protection by calling 1-866-999-8727 toll-free to report suspicious activity. Callers can remain anonymous.
James Gilbert can be reached at jgilbert@yumasun.com or 5396854. Find him on Facebook at www. Facebook.com/YSJamesGilbert or on Twitter @YSJamesGilbert.