U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers said they arrested a man for allegedly trying to smuggle a woman into the country by hiding her inside a car's engine compartment.

Officials said the discovery was made last Friday afternoon during a routine border security inspection at the downtown Calexico port of entry.

Customs officers said the driver, a 27-year-old resident of Mexicali, was stopped driving a beige, 1991 Mercury Grand Marquis.

Upon questioning, officers said the man appeared nervous. He was referred to undergo a secondary inspection. That's when CBP officers said they discovered what appeared to be a piece of wood under the front bumper.


Officers removed the grill and said they found a Chinese woman lying in a non-factory compartment of the engine.

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