Early on Saturday, U.S. Border Patrol agents rescued nine migrants and arrested four smugglers during a traffic stop near Nogales, Arizona.
Tucson Sector agents conducted a vehicle stop on a Freightliner semitruck pulling a cattle trailer around 1 a.m. After receiving permission to inspect the trailer, agents discovered nine migrants in an enclosed space hidden beneath a false floor. The migrants had no means of escape.
Agents arrested the driver and passenger of the Freightliner as well as the driver and passenger of a Ford pickup encountered at the scene. The vehicles were believed to be traveling in tandem along a stretch of state Route 82 northeast of Nogales.
The driver of the Freightliner, a local U.S. citizen, faces smuggling charges. The migrants were arrested and processed for immigration violations.
According to Border Patrol, this case follows a similar smuggling attempt of 33 migrants along the same stretch of Route 82 on September 25.
