A shocking photo captured a man wedged inside a car’s gas tank after a driver attempted to smuggle the migrant across the US-Mexico border, according to authorities.
The wild discovery unfolded when US Customs and Border Protection Officers encountered a 20-year-old man driving an SUV at the San Ysidro Port of Entry between San Diego, California and Tijuana on Feb. 27, the federal agency announced on Monday.
After a CBP canine team alerted officers to the underside of the vehicle, authorities discovered a Mexican national stuffed inside a non-factory compartment built into the gas tank, the US CBP said.
The man was quickly removed from the “life-threatening” situation and taken to a hospital in Chula Vista to treat burn injuries he sustained during the smuggling attempt.
Harrowing photos showed him in a fetal position while cramped inside the tight tank compartment.
The unidentified driver was arrested and booked into the Metropolitan Correctional Center in San Diego, federal authorities said. It is not immediately clear whether the stowaway is facing legal repercussions or has been taken back to Mexico.
“This case underscores the dangerous and inhumane tactics employed by smugglers who prioritize profit over human lives,” San Ysidro Port Director Mariza Marin said in a statement.
“Thanks to the vigilance and professionalism of U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers, this individual was located and removed from a life-threatening situation, subsequently receiving the medical attention they needed. CBP remains committed to disrupting smuggling operations that endanger the public.”
