Border Patrol stops human smuggling attempt

Border Patrol agents with the El Centro Sector apprehended three undocumented Mexican Nationals during an attempt to pass through the Hwy. 86 checkpoint on Wednesday afternoon.

An RV driven by a 23 year-old U.S. citizen was stopped around 2 p.m. by agents assigned to the Indio Station, according to authorities.

He had an 18 year-old woman, also a U.S. citizen, as his passenger.

After a K9 alerted agents to the RV, they discovered a wooden box in the rear storage compartment under the bed of the vehicle with a lid screwed onto it.

Agents said they unscrewed the lid and found three illegal aliens inside the box.

One was 17, one was 19 and the other was 21 years-old.

Authorities arrested the driver and passenger on suspicion of alien smuggling.

The three Mexican Nationals were taken into custody by Border Patrol.

Photos: Human smuggling attempt caught by Border Patrol