US citizen arrested for attempted human smuggling

INDIO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - El Centro Sector Border Patrol agents performing an anti-smuggling operation arrested a United States citizen seeking out to smuggle eight undocumented people.

The arrest happened over the weekend on Saturday.

At around 9:00 a.m., agents directed a vehicle stop on a white 2002 Ford F-359 carrying a white Warrior travel trailer on Interstate 10 and Dillon Road.

Throughout the stop, agents learned the driver was a U.S. citizen while the passenger, who was a Mexican national, didn't have any of the required documents to be in the U.S. legally.

A further look at the vehicle and trailer led agents to find seven additional people hiding and laying down on the floor and restroom.

Five of the group were Mexican nationals while the other two were from Guatemala, none of them contained the required documents to be present in the U.S. legally.

All were taken to the Indio Border Patrol station for further processing.

The driver was turned over to local authorities for an outstanding warrant for probation violation.

All eight undocumented individuals will be processed accordingly.

The vehicle is to be seized as per El Centro Sector guidelines.