see also: in April 2007 News Releases:   CBP Officers at O’Hare Seize $6.7 Million Worth of Cocaine   CBP Officers Seize $8 Million Worth of Marijuana at Calexico Port   CBP Border Patrol Rescues Three   U.S., Mexican Officials Announce Grand Opening Of Brownsville SENTRI Lane   Funcionarios de Estados Unidos y México Anuncian Inauguración del Carril SENTRI en Brownsville   First Mobile Sensor Tower Arrives In Arizona   Frequent Traveler Charged with Marijuana Smuggling ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Kingsville, Texas - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol Agents from the Sarita Border Patrol checkpoint rescued six undocumented aliens from inside a dump truck. The driver of the truck was arrested.

The rescue occurred on April 23; when agents assigned to the Sarita Border Patrol checkpoint observed a dump truck enter the primary lane for inspection. A Border Patrol Canine Team alerted to the front of the bed of the dump truck and the driver was referred to the secondary inspection area for further investigation.

After closer inspection, agents discovered a total of six Mexican nationals illegally in the U.S. The aliens were crammed inside a non-factory metal box concealed in a load of asphalt. All subjects were taken into custody and processed for removal proceedings. None of them were in need of medical attention. The driver, a U.S. citizen from Penitas, Texas was arrested and charged with federal alien smuggling charges.

Border Patrol seized the truck and the utility trailer. The driver was arrested for alien smuggling.

In the ongoing effort to disrupt human trafficking and smuggling, the Rio Grande Valley Sector has created a toll-free telephone number for the community to report suspicious activity – 1-800-863-9382.

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.