DOUGLAS, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations (OFO) Port of Douglas officers used familiarity with frequent border crossers to catch a suspected human smuggler.
The incident occurred this past Friday morning, as officers encountered a 40-year-old woman attempting to cross into the United States. An officer recognized the driver but told fellow officers the woman routinely crossed in a different vehicle. This prompted them to refer the woman to pull a Volkswagen beetle in for a secondary inspection. When officers opened the rear trunk, they discovered a 39-year-old Mexican male inside without a way to get out.
“This incident highlights the attention to detail of our officers, and the effort they put forth daily to keep the residents of our bi-national communities safe,” said Douglas Area Port Director Jeffrey A. Wilson. The driver and passenger were processed and turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements’ Homeland Security Investigations.
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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.