Mesa couple arrested for smuggling man inside vehicle’s trunk

Border Patrol agents arrested a Mesa couple after finding a Mexican man in their vehicle’s trunk at the Interstate 19 immigration checkpoint near Amado, Ariz. Wednesday evening.

Agents referred a 21-year-old female driver of a Chevy Cavalier for additional inspection after a Border Patrol canine alerted to an odor coming from the vehicle.

When agents opened the vehicle’s trunk, they discovered a 26-year-old Mexican national inside.

Agents arrested the driver and her 22-year-old male passenger, identified as the vehicle’s registered owner, for human smuggling and seized the vehicle.

The Mexican national is being processed for immigration violations.