C.B.P. News Release

Fugitive Apprehended with 3 Illegal Aliens Hidden in SUV

(Tuesday, September 01, 2009)

San Ysidro, Calif. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers apprehended a 44-year-old fugitive and rescued three illegal aliens hidden in the vehicle he was driving at the San Ysidro port of entry early this morning. Two of the illegal aliens, including a 15-year-old male, suffered burns and were hospitalized.

At about 5:30 a.m., a CBP officer was alerted that the driver of a 2003 green Chevrolet Suburban was wanted for a parole violation when he entered the port for inspection. The driver and the vehicle were escorted to the secondary inspection area for further processing.

Officers ran the vehicle through the port’s x-ray imaging system revealing three Mexican males hidden within the vehicle. Officers then located the access panel to a specially built gas-tank compartment attached to the vehicle’s undercarriage.

Officers safely removed a 30-year-old man and a juvenile from the compartment who had suffered chemical burns from the gasoline. CBP officers trained as medical first responders arrived immediately and provided them with medical attention until emergency services could respond. Emergency medical services responded and transported them to a local hospital for treatment.

A third concealed illegal alien was extracted from within the rear passenger side wall of the vehicle.

The driver, a Cuban citizen, was arrested on alien smuggling charges. He was wanted by the California Department of Corrections.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Contacts For This News Release
Angelica De Cima
CBP Public Affairs
Phone: (619) 652-9966 Ext: 191
Fax: (619) 645-6641

http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/newsroom/new ... 2009_9.xml