Woman, 19, Arrested on Suspicion of Human Smuggling at I-8 Checkpoint

PINE VALLEY, CA: A 19-year-old woman is facing federal charges of human smuggling after two Mexican nationals were allegedly found inside the trunk of her car.

U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested the woman, whose identity was not disclosed, Tuesday at the Interstate 8 checkpoint near Pine Valley.

The woman had arrived at the checkpoint at 1 p.m. and was referred by agents for a secondary inspection. When they opened the trunk of the 2003 white Acura TL she was driving, two men were allegedly discovered inside.

"The men had been in the trunk for an extended period and were disoriented by the daylight and had difficulty speaking," according to a Border Patrol news release. "After providing aid to the men, agents determined both were Mexican nationals illegally present in the U.S."

The woman was taken into federal custody and the two men were transported to a nearby Border Patrol station for processing, according to the news release.

"Due to the extraordinary vigilance of the Campo Station agents, many smugglers have tried and failed to get their human cargo through the Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 8," said Campo Patrol Agent in Charge David BeMiller.

Since Oct. 1, 2015, San Diego Sector Border Patrol agents have intercepted 14,449 individuals attempting to illegally enter the U.S.

Photos courtesy of U.S. Border Patrol