Photos show Mexican citizen stuffed inside back seat of car, CA border agents say

Border officers found a Mexican citizen hidden inside the back seat of a car, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said.

At about 1 a.m. Monday, an 18-year-old woman arrived at the Calexico, California, port of entry. Officers ordered a “more in-depth examination” of the Mitsubishi and the driver, according to a news release.

A canine team searched the car, leading officials to look more closely at the car’s back seat. Officers searched the seat and found a 48-year-old man “hidden within a non-factory compartment,” according to the news release.

The man is a 48-year-old Mexican citizen, according to Customs and Border Protection. The driver was a U.S. citizen and was taken into custody, according to the news release. The driver’s name was not released.

“The primary focus of our national security mission is to protect the American homeland from all threats,” CBP Director of Field Operations for San Diego Pete Flores said in the news release. “Although we routinely encounter individuals attempting to enter our country illegally, this incident serves as another example of the inhumane tactics human smugglers will utilize in order to circumvent our laws.”