Laredo, Texas - Laredo Sector U.S. Border Patrol agents recently apprehended 18 illegal aliens inside the sleeper cabin of a tractor-trailer during an immigration inspection at the Interstate Highway 35 Border Patrol checkpoint.

The incident occurred on August 21st after a tractor-trailer approached the primary inspection lane of the Border Patrol Checkpoint on Interstate Highway 35.  Agents referred the driver to secondary after a canine alert.

At secondary inspection, agents found 18 illegal immigrants confined inside the sleeper cabin of the tractor-trailer.

The 18 illegal aliens were found in good health and identified as being from the countries of Mexico and Guatemala.  The driver, a United States citizen, was arrested and the tractor-trailer was seized by Border Patrol.  Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is the lead investigative agency in this case.