CALEXICO, Calif. – A Brazilian man was found hiding inside the gas tank of an SUV at the Calexico east port of entry.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers say a Calexico man drove up to the port early Tuesday morning. The man was sent to secondary inspection where officers noticed anomalies in the gas tank of the car with the use of the port’s imaging system. The 38-year-old Brazilian man was eventually found inside the modified gas tank during a search of the car.
“While the vast majority of the smuggling attempts uncovered at the port of entry involve citizens from the United States and Mexico, from time to time we do encounter smuggling attempts involving citizens from Central and South America, as well as other areas around the world,” said David Salazar, Acting Port Director for the Calexico ports of entry. “CBP has no tolerance for violations of immigration law, especially cases involving human smuggling in such hazardous conditions.”
The driver of the car, a 40-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested and will be facing federal charges according to CBP officers.
