Niland, Calif. — On February 6, U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Indio station stopped a vehicle being used to smuggle three people and arrested a suspected alien smuggler.

The incident occurred last night, when agents encountered a white Cadillac Escalade near the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint located on Highway 111 near Niland, Calif. Agents attempted to stop the vehicle which failed to yield and traveled south on Highway 111.

Approximately two minutes later, the vehicle pulled to the side of the road and came to a stop. The driver and three passengers, all Mexican nationals, were determined to be illegally present in the United States and subsequently arrested. The driver was also charged with alien smuggling.

The suspect and the illegal aliens are in Border Patrol custody pending further investigation. The vehicle was seized by the U.S. Border Patrol.

The El Centro Sector’s Community Awareness Campaign is a simple and effective program to raise public awareness on the indicators of crime and other threats. We encourage public and private sector employees to remain vigilant and play a key role in keeping our country safe. Please report any suspicious activity to the Border Community Threat Hotline at (800) 901-2003.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.