see also: in July 2008:   CBP Discovers 2.7 Tons of Marijuana on Cargo Box Truck   Holiday Travel Reminder for Northwest Border Crossers   Current, Former CBP Employees Assist in Arrest of Purse Snatchers   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Failure to Register as Sex Offender   California SENTRI Participant in Hot Water, CBP Finds Dope in Vehicle   CBP Officers Arrest Man Wanted for Aggravated Sexual Assault on Minor   CBP Revokes Trusted Traveler Privileges After Finding Prohibited Items During Inspection ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

Laredo, Texas – Border Patrol agents from the Laredo North station detained 27 undocumented aliens after interdicting a smuggling attempt today.

Just after midnight Thursday, agents manning the checkpoint located on Interstate 35 north of Laredo conducted an immigration inspection of the driver of a tractor trailer. A service canine alerted agents to the trailer and indicated to the presence of people or contraband.

The vehicle was referred for secondary inspection and examined by the Vehicle and Cargo Inspection System which uses gamma rays to produce an image similar to an x-ray. The machine image showed what appeared to be humans among boxes of cargo that was listed as electronic equipment on the bill of lading. Agents opened the sealed trailer and discovered 27 people standing shoulder-to-shoulder in a narrow aisle between the boxes of cargo.Agents determined that all of the people were undocumented aliens. Two of the people requested medical attention and were treated for dehydration by medically trained Border Patrol agents.

One of the aliens had an outstanding arrest warrant on DUI charges and was turned over to the Webb County Sheriffs Office. The remaining members of the group were prosecuted for entry without inspection under the Streamline Laredo initiative or processed for removal from the U.S.

The driver was turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

To report suspicious activity such as drug and/or alien smuggling, contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free telephone number at 1-800-343-1994.

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.