Border patrol busts 16 in drive-through smuggling incident
Stolen utility truck used to transport illegals across border
CAMPO, Calif. (KYMA, KSWT, KECY) - A smuggler cuts his way through a border fence, then drives through the hole in a stolen truck loaded with illegal immigrants.
U.S. Border Patrol agents say that's what happened Wednesday afternoon in the desert near Campo.
Agents say they saw a man cut a hole in a border fence, then drive through in a white Dodge truck. A short time later, they say the saw the same man use a bolt cutter to try to access some private property. That's when agents moved in to make the arrest.
The man took off, leading agents on a short chase. When he finally stopped, some 15 people came pouring out of the truck and tried to escape into the desert.
Agents did manage to round them all up. The group included 14 Mexican nationals and two Guatemalans. All admitted to being in the U.S. illegally.
Agents say the driver was also an illegal immigrant from Mexico. They say the truck he was driving was stolen. He'll be prosecuted on a number of federal charges.
San Diego Sector Interim Chief Douglas Harrison says only luck prevented someone from getting seriously hurt.
" “A vehicle drive-thru, with overloaded and unsecured passengers, particularly in this terrain, can certainly result in a rollover accident with serious injuries and death,” said Harrison.
