Written by
Susan Shroder
9:55 p.m., March 6, 2012

SAN YSIDRO -- A woman was found hidden in the side panel of a minivan stopped at the San Ysidro Port of Entry last week, and the driver, a 43-year-old Vista man, was arrested, federal officials said Tuesday.


Federal officers found a woman inside a van; the driver was arrested.

A 1993 Dodge Caravan stopped at the border crossing about 11:30 p.m. on Friday. A CBP officer noticed that the driver’s side quarter-panel sounded strange when he tapped on it. The minivan and driver were sent to secondary inspection.

Officers removed a plastic panel covering the side wall of the minivan and found the woman, a Mexican national, inside.

The driver was booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center. The woman will be returned to Mexico after testifying in the case. The driver’s name was not released. Officials did not say if the woman suffered any injuries.

One Old Vet

CBP finds woman in wall of van | UTSanDiego.com