U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint stopped two weekend attempts to smuggle five illegal immigrants through the United States.
An agent referred a 2008 Dodge Caravan for a secondary inspection Friday evening after a Border Patrol canine alerted to an odor it was trained to detect. Upon further inspection, agents discovered three adult male Mexican nationals under the van’s floorboard.
A second smuggling attempt was stopped Sunday evening after an agent referred a 2005 Nissan Maxima for a secondary inspection. Upon opening the trunk, agents found two adult Mexican nationals inside.
The drivers, a 55-year-old man and a 28-year-old woman, both U.S. citizens, were arrested for smuggling illegal immigrants. The five Mexican nationals, ranging ages 21-35, are being processed for immigration violations. Both vehicles were seized.