Cops find illegal immigrants inside 18-wheeler

Web Posted: 05/21/2008 07:01 AM CDT

Marvin Hurst
KENS 5 Eyewitness News

Authorities took a big rig driver into custody after several undocumented immigrants were found inside the 18-wheeler parked at a South Side convenience store.
Undercover drug officers stumbled upon the 18-wheeler during a drug investigation Tuesday night, when they pulled over a man during drug bust at a Shell Gas Station in the 5800 block of South Pan Am Expressway.

As police surrounded the man's pickup truck, officers heard a noise coming from the nearby 18-wheeler and discovered seven illegal immigrants inside the cab of the truck.

A store clerk told investigators, the big rig had been parked at the truck stop since 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

It's possible that the men and women were stuck in the vehicle as yesterday's high flirted near 100 degrees.

Paramedics examined the illegal immigrants before they were placed in Immigration and Custom Enforcement custody.

The driver, who was just hired on May 6, is an employee of Smithway Motor Xpress Inc. based out of Fort Dodge, Iowa.

An official with the trucking company told KENS 5 Eyewitness News the driver is from Georgia and picked up a load in Del Rio.
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