TUCSON, Ariz. – Tucson Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Interstate 19 checkpoint near Tubac rescued five illegal migrants from vehicle trunks during two separate smuggling attempts on Oct. 15. The incidents took place within 30 minutes of each other.
The first event occurred at approximately 7:45 a.m. when agents released three adult Mexican nationals from the trunk of an Acura LX. The second event took place 30 minutes later when a Border Patrol agent and his canine partner discovered two Mexican nationals in the trunk of a Lincoln LS. In both incidents, the vehicle trunks were locked with no visible means of escape.
The drivers, both United States citizens, are being prosecuted for smuggling. The five undocumented Mexican nationals and two vehicles will be processed according to Tucson Sector guidelines. There were no injuries reported.