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San Ysidro, CA.— A man wanted by the U.S Marshals Service attempted to evade capture by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers Thursday morning, October 5, at the San Ysidro border station, officials announced today. The man drove his vehicle over a motorcycle while two Mexican females where hidden in a secret compartment in the floor of his SUV. CBP officers apprehended him as he attempted to escape to Mexico on foot.

CBP officers intercepted 42-year old Edward Gonzalez Amado, at about 5:30 a.m. when he attempted to enter the U.S. in a 1993 Mitsubishi Montero as the sole visible occupant. A query of the vehicle license plate resulted in a positive alert indicating that the plates were stolen, so the officer escorted the vehicle and driver to the secondary lot for a more intensive inspection.

As the officer walked next to the vehicle on its way into the secondary inspection area, the driver did not comply and instead accelerated and veered right towards the east egress. Due to the high volume of exiting vehicle traffic, Amado swerved to the right and attempted to drive the vehicle southbound through a northbound primary lane running over a Suzuki motorcycle and came to rest on top of it.

The motorcyclist and the CBP officer manning the lane both jumped into an inspection booth to avoid being struck by the vehicle. The driver got out of the vehicle and began to run towards Mexico but was apprehended by CBP officers before he could enter Mexico.

CBP officers conducted an examination of the vehicle revealing a 45-year old and a 34-year old woman with their legs wrapped in blankets and duct tape, hidden in non-factory metal compartment affixed to the undercarriage. When officers removed the females from the compartment, they noticed the 34-year old had sustained a burn to her left foot. The woman was taken to an area hospital for treatment and was released. The two undocumented immigrants will serve as material witnesses in the prosecution case.

Officers subsequently discovered Amado has an active warrant for his arrest as a fugitive. Amado was arrested and will be charged with alien smuggling and endangerment. He was transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center to await arraignment. The vehicle was seized by CBP.

“This incident demonstrates how unscrupulous smugglers can be,” said Adele Fasano, director of field operations in San Diego. “Our policy is to vigorously prosecute such cases where there is endangerment.”

“This is another example of CBP protecting the American public by enforcing laws at our nation’s border,” Fasano said. “This enforcement success would not have been possible if not for the actions of vigilant CBP Officers who conduct thorough and complete primary inspections.”

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) 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.