see also: in September 2008:   Ramey Border Patrol Sector Sponsors Intelligence Training   Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Rescue Lost Alien   Customs and Border Protection Warns Floral Importers About Unripe Poppy Pods   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Failing to Register as Sex Offender   El Paso CBP Officers Discover 3,000 Pounds of Marijuana in Shipment of Watermelons   CBP Seizes More Than $360,000 in Undeclared Currency ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

San Ysidro, Calif. – A 30-year old Los Angeles woman driving a pickup truck from Mexico was arrested late Friday night at the San Ysidro, Calif. port of entry after U. S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered three undocumented Mexican females, two of them children, hidden in a compartment under the bed of the truck, CBP officials announced today.

The three females, including a 22-year-old and her 11-year old sister, as well as a 14-year-old, appeared to be unharmed and were detained as material witnesses. A 10-year-old female who was a passenger in the truck was released to a family relative.

The truck entered the port just before midnight on Friday and was referred to the secondary inspection lot for a more comprehensive examination after officers became suspicious of the driver and the vehicle.

During the secondary inspection, officers discovered a non-factory compartment under the truck bed and noted what appeared to be clothing and strands of a woman’s hair coming from cracks in the compartment.

Once the truck bed liner was removed, the box-shaped sheet metal compartment was exposed. Officers cut out the center of the truck bed and found the three females lying on their backs.

The driver was transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center to await arraignment on the alleged smuggling attempt.

The case was part of a busy week for CBP officers at San Diego area port of entry that included the processing of 36 narcotics smuggling attempts totaling over 3,500 pounds of marijuana, 31 pounds of methamphetamine and 11 pounds of heroin.

CBP officers at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports also processed 16 alien smuggling attempts and apprehended 24 fugitives wanted for various sex offenses, robbery, burglary, larceny, fraud, counterfeiting and assault, among others.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.