Man found smuggling illegal alien inside SUV’s gas tank

CBP says driver arrested after K9 alert uncovers dangerous concealment

San Diego, CA – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers discovered a man concealed inside a modified gas tank during a smuggling attempt at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, authorities said.

The incident occurred on February 27 at approximately 7:30 p.m., when officers encountered a 20-year-old driver operating a 2005 GMC SUV. During the initial inspection, a CBP K9 unit alerted to the vehicle’s undercarriage, prompting a more detailed search.

Officers directed the SUV to a secondary inspection area, where they uncovered a Mexican national hidden inside a non-factory compartment constructed wit...