CBP finds man hidden in a vehicle’s gas tank
By Andrea Flores
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SAN DIEGO (KCRA) — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego arrested a driver after they attempted to smuggle a Mexican national concealed in a vehicle’s gas tank.
This happened on Feb. 27 around 7:30 p.m. CBP officers encountered a 20-year-old man driving a 2005 GMC SUV.
During an initial inspection, CBP says the canine team alerted them to the vehicle’s undercarriage. The vehicle was driven to a secondary inspection area. That’s where officers found a person hiding inside a non-factory compartment in the gas tank.
The person hiding in the gas tank was taken to Scripps Mercy Hospital in Chula Vista for treatment of burn injuries sustained during the smuggling attempt.
“This case underscores the dangerous and inhumane tactics employed by smugglers who prioritize profit over human lives,” said San Ysidro Port Director Mariza Marin. “Thanks to the vigilance and professionalism of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, this individual was located and removed from a life-threatening situation, subsequently receiving the medical attention they needed. CBP remains committed to disrupting smuggling operations that endanger the public.”
The driver was arrested and booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego.
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