Tucson Couple Caught Smuggling After Fleeing Checkpoint

On Tuesday night, a U.S. citizen and a legally admitted permanent resident from Mexico was arrested by Nogales Border Patrol agents after they fled the interstate 19 Immigration Checkpoint and attempted to smuggle five Mexican nationals.

The driver of a Chrysler 300 was referred to by agents for additional screening after a U.S. Border Patrol canine alerted to an odor it was trained to detect emitting from the vehicle. The driver instead fled from the immigration checkpoint and ultimately stopped for pursuing agents a few miles north.

The 36-year-old female U.S. citizen driver and the 28-year-old male passenger were arrested after agents discovered a Mexican national in the rear seat, and four additional Mexican nationals in the trunk.

The driver and passenger are being processed for smuggling, while the five Mexican nationals, ages 15 through 36, are being processed for immigration violations.

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