http://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/11139599/detail.html

Woman, 83, Arrested For Smuggling Attempt

POSTED: 7:06 pm PST February 28, 2007
UPDATED: 7:43 pm PST February 28, 2007

SAN YSIDRO, Calif. -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers said they arrested an 83-year-old woman for attempting to smuggle two illegal immigrants across the border.

Officials said it happened Monday evening at the San Ysidro port of entry.

The woman, a resident of Tijuana was a SENTRI participant, according to officials. SENTRI stands for Secure Electronic Network for Travelers Rapid Inspection. It was implemented at the San Ysidro facility in 2000, and more than 80,000 travelers from both sides of the border are currently registered in the program.

Customs officials said they found two men in the woman's minivan during a secondary search. One man was hidden behind the second-row seats and another man was behind the third-row seats. The men, ages 20 and 40, were both citizens of Mexico.

The female driver was charged with alien smuggling and was transported to the Metropolitan Correctional Center. Officials said her SENTRI pass was also revoked.

Last week, another SENTRI participant was arrested at the San Ysidro border crossing after officers discovered 41 pounds of marijuana in the vehicle he was driving.

The driver, a 41-year-old male U.S. citizen, was transported to the San Diego County Jail to await arraignment for the failed smuggling attempt.