Smugglers stuff 11 Chinese people in furniture, washing machine at California border

Border agents found 11 Chinese people inside a truck, including some stuffed in a washing machine and furniture, trying to cross into the U.S. at a California port of entry, officials say.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials looked through a moving truck at San Ysidro on Saturday after an officer referred the vehicle for an additional search, according to a news release. The truck was being driven by a 42-year-old U.S. citizen, officials said.

When the officers opened the truck door, they found the people inside.

Pictures show two people squeezed tightly into a chest and another two people inside a washing machine.

“CBP cannot stress enough the dangers of smuggling people,” CBP Director of Field Operations for San Diego Pete Flores wrote in the news release. “These are human beings that smugglers subject to inhumane conditions that could have deadly consequences. Fortunately no one was seriously injured.”

The truck driver was taken to jail to await criminal charges, officials said.

The Chinese citizens were put on an immigration hold to be held for criminal proceedings.

This story was originally published December 10, 2019 at 12:01 PM.