Fake Border Patrol SUV Stopped in Human Smuggling Attempt

A fake Border Patrol vehicle stopped on Interstate 35 in Texas had 12 undocumented immigrants crammed inside as part of a human smuggling attempt.

Border Patrol agents noticed the familiar-looking SUV traveling northbound on Interstate 35 near the border town of Laredo on Thursday, reported KRIS-TV. 

"To a casual observer, the cloned vehicle appeared to be a law enforcement vehicle conducting official business, but to the observant Border Patrol agents something was not quite right," said a Border Patrol statement. "After further investigation, the agents determined that the four-door vehicle had been cloned to look like an official Border Patrol vehicle in an attempt to conceal a human smuggling attempt."

The Tahoe sports utility vehicles are common sights on the Rio Grande roads in Texas, said KRGV-TV.

"As we continue to monitor security along the border and in adjacent communities, smugglers have resorted to desperate measures to conduct their illicit business," said Mario Martinez, chief of the Border Patrol's Laredo sector.

"The training, attention to detail and vigilance of our Border Patrol agents halted this human smuggling attempt. We encourage public and private sector employees to remain vigilant and play a key role in keeping our country safe."

Omar Zamora with the Border Patrol's Rio Grande Valley sector said there were several signs that made agents suspicious.

"There's no fender, there's no ground effect on any of our vehicles," said Zamora. "They're actually pretty bare and about as high as we get the vehicle, because we do go off road."

"In the 18 years that I've been in the Border Patrol, we've seen UPS, FedEX trucks, Time Warner trucks, any kinds of clones. Any business you can think of. The smugglers are trying to clone it to avoid law enforcement detection." 


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