Border patrol finds man hidden in fuel tank

Sammy Roth, The Desert Sun 11:52 a.m. PDT April 16, 2015

http://www.gannett-cdn.com/-mm-/bb11...l-tank-man.png
(Photo: Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

Border patrol agents found a man hidden in an SUV's modified fuel tank Wednesday near Salton City, officials said in a statement.

At about 3:30 p.m., authorities found the 40-year-old Mexican national inside a 1999 Toyota 4Runner at the Highway 86 checkpoint, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency.

The compartment was under rear seat. It had limited air flow with no way for someone to escape, according to the border agency.

A 33-year-old man drove the SUV. He was with a 24-year-old woman and their two children, who were all identified as U.S. citizens.

The adults are accused of human smuggling and are scheduled to appear in federal court. The children were placed into the custody of a relative, according to the border agency.

The SUV was seized as standard procedure.

http://www.desertsun.com/story/news/...tank/25885651/