U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported the arrest of 19 Mexican citizens attempting to illegally enter the United States through the drainage system located on the border between Mexico and California.
Among those arrested were three unaccompanied minors, as well as two brothers identified as Raudel Carrillo Padilla, 35, and Ivan Carrillo Padilla, 31, who have criminal records and prior deportations related to drug trafficking offenses.
According to a statement released by U.S. authorities, the operation took place on May 4 at approximately 10:40 p.m., when border patrol agents detected suspicious activity near the drainage tunnels using remote video surveillance systems installed in the San Diego border area.
Authorities detailed that the officers immediately went to the area and located a group of people trying to cross into the United States using the sewer system as a clandestine route to evade immigration controls.
