Authorities say Border Patrol agents in southwestern Arizona rescued 16 immigrants from Mexico who were locked in the back of a work truck in a human smuggling attempt.
Customs and Border Protection officials say the incident happened Monday near the Arizona-Mexico border and a 57-year-old California man was taken into custody.
A caller alerted the Yuma Station to a work truck with a camper shell that was seen loading up a group of people who had illegally entered the United States about 7 a.m. Agents stopped the vehicle and 16 people were found in the back and unable to open the exit latches.
The California man who was driving the vehicle was arrested on suspicion of human smuggling and the 16 Mexican residents were taken into custody for immigration violations.
