Mexican truck driver hauling 11 people in load of carrots charged for cabotage violations, human smuggling

U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) arrested a truck driver in Arizona for a major human smuggling attempt as well as cabotage violations.

USBP recently partnered with Homeland Security Investigations to put a halt to a human smuggling attempt involving a tractor trailer hauling a load of fresh carrots.

Agents intercepted the truck on a roadway in Nogales, Arizona, and discovered “11 illegal aliens concealed among pallets of carrots.”

The truck driver, a Mexican national present in the U.S. on a visitor visa, was charged with human smuggling and cabotage violations, officials said.

“Human smugglers continue to treat lives as cargo. Agents remain committed to disrupting these operations,” said USBP.

USBP has been increasingly focused on cabotage violations over the past months.

“Cabotage laws regulate the transportation of goods or passengers between two points within the United States by foreign carriers or drivers. These laws are designed to ensure that domestic transportation services are reserved for U.S. companies and workers, preventing unfair competition from foreign entities. The enforcement of cabotage laws is vital to protecting the U.S. economy and ensuring fair competition within the domestic transportation industry. By enforcing these laws, Border Patrol agents help preserve opportunities for U.S. truck drivers and transportation companies, ensuring that American workers remain competitive in the marketplace,” USBP said in November 2025.