U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says that a trucker’s pre-trip inspection was “instrumental” in putting a stop to a human smuggling operation.
The smuggling operation was discovered in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas on Saturday, August 29.
On Saturday evening, the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) requested assistance from the Weslaco Border Patrol Station after a truck driver found ten people inside the trailer he was transporting.
“Upon arrival, agents learned that during the pre-inspection of the tractor trailer, the driver noticed a broken seal on the trailer leading to the discovery of the people inside,” CBP said.
Authorities determined that all 10 people were in the U.S. illegally and all 10 were taken into custody.
“The actions of the company’s driver to pre-inspect the tractor trailer and notice the broken seal was instrumental in identifying a potentially dangerous smuggling attempt. His diligence not only prevented a potential detention by law enforcement, but possibly prevented serious injury or death,” CBP noted.