A canine for the Border Patrol alerted to a vehicle in which 3 illegal immigrants were found hiding in the trunk of a vehicle on February 11, 2021 in Yuma, Arizona at the Interstate 8 immigration checkpoint.
Yuma Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the checkpoint encountered a Chrysler sedan at approximately 7:45 a.m. Agents referred the vehicle to the checkpoint’s secondary inspection area due to the suspicious behavior of the driver and passenger.
While in secondary, a canine alerted to the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed three Mexican nationals hiding in the vehicle’s trunk. A fourth Mexican national was also discovered hiding on the floorboard behind the driver and passenger seat; however, he exited the vehicle with the driver and passenger prior to the canine sniff.
In addition, agents found a loaded handgun, and personal use amounts of methamphetamine, narcotic pills, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia. The driver and passenger, U.S. citizens from California, were arrested and the drugs, paraphernalia and vehicle were seized.
The four Mexican nationals were transported to a law enforcement station for further processing.
