CBP finds teen stuffed in dashboard
Search foils human smuggling attempt
CALEXICO, Calif. (KYMA, KSWT, KECY) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Calexico West port of entry thwarted a surprising human smuggling attempt Monday. They found a 17-year-old boy hidden in the dashboard of a vehicle.
Officers say a Ford Taurus with two visible occupants passed through the port around 8:30 in the morning. They waved the vehicle into secondary inspection, and that's when they discovered the boy.
The 17-year-old Mexican national was actually wedged into the dashboard compartment. Officers say he's lucky he survived.
"Smuggling a person in a confined space is dangerous and can have serious consequences, " says Officer-in-Charge Sergio Beltran.
In this case the consequences include federal charges for the driver, the passenger, and the hidden teen.
The driver of the Taurus, and the passenger were both U.S. citizens. They're in the Imperial County Jail awaiting formal charging.
The teen remains in CBP custody. A records check revealed this isn't his first attempt at getting into the country. Officers say he tried to enter illegally in March using someone else's documents.
