24 Arrested In Smuggling Attempt (KXO Radio)

24 Arrested In Smuggling Attempt
Written by Carroll Buckley
Monday, 26 July 2010

Federal authorities arrested two alleged smugglers and the driver of a pick-up truck used to smuggle illegal aliens.
U.S. Border Patrol Agents assigned to the El Centro Sector attempted to stop a pick-up truck near Keystone and Highline Roads , southeast of Brawley , Ca .on Thursday. The truck fled the scene but was located later in a ditch off Gonder Road. Agents discovered 15 people concealed under a tarp in the bed of the truck. All 15 were determined to be in the U.S. illegally and were arrested. The driver of the truck had fled the scene but another individual who was a U.S. citizen was arrested at the scene. Agents obtained information that led them to the house where the alleged driver was hiding and Friday afternoon at about 1:30 , Border Patrol agents in conjunction with the Imperial Valley Border Enforcement Security Task Force ( IVBEST ) went to that location. During a search of the premises agents found the driver plus 7 additional illegal aliens , including one who was involved in the smuggling attempt. The U.S. citizen , the alleged driver asnd the smuggler arrested at the house are all being held pending charges for alien smuggling.