SAN DIEGO — U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) agents assigned to East County San Diego stopped fleeing smugglers in two separate events resulting in 15 arrests Wednesday night.

The first event occurred near Boulevard, Calif. on December 18 at around 7:30 p.m. An agent using surveillance equipment observed a group of people running north from the U.S/Mexico international border into the U.S.

As agents responded, 11 people loaded into a red Ford truck and packed themselves into the cab and under the bed cover as the truck sped away. Agents quickly located the truck and attempted to initiate a vehicle stop but the driver continued to flee at a high rate of speed. Minutes later, Border Patrol agents deployed a tire deflation device and successfully stopped the truck on Tierra Del Sol Road.

People hid themselves inside areas of

a pickup truck.

Agents arrested the driver, a 20-year-old U.S. citizen, who is being held in Federal custody pending alien smuggling charges. The 11 Mexican national passengers sustained no injuries and are being processed for removal. The passengers included four men and seven women, one of which was a 15-year-old girl. The USBP seized the truck.

The second event began at around 10 p.m. at the State Route (SR) 94 checkpoint in Jamul, Calif. A gray Toyota Corolla approached primary inspection; however, when the agent began to ask questions, the male driver accelerated and fled the checkpoint at a high rate of speed toward the community of Jamul. Agents immediately pursued the fleeing driver.

During the pursuit, the vehicle slowed and agents saw two men jump out of the moving vehicle’s trunk. One agent stopped for the two people while another agent continued to pursue the vehicle.

The chase ended at Melody Street off SR 94 where the vehicle came to a stop. Agents arrested the driver.

The two men who exited the vehicle’s trunk were evaluated and had no injuries. Agent’s identified them as Mexican nationals who were illegally present in the U.S. and are being processed for removal.

The driver, an 18-year-old U.S. citizen, is in Federal custody and faces alien smuggling charges. The USBP seized the vehicle.

“These incidents are examples of the dangerous acts human smugglers perform every day for financial gain and demonstrates their indifference for the lives of those involved and the driving public,” said Chief Patrol Agent Douglas Harrison. “Fortunately, these events came to a safe conclusion and ended with the drivers in custody. I am proud of the hard work our agents carry out to protect our communities from the dangerous smugglers.”

To prevent the illicit smuggling of humans, drugs, and other contraband, the U.S. Border Patrol maintains a high level of vigilance on corridors of egress away from our Nation’s borders. To report suspicious activity to the U.S. Border Patrol, contact San Diego Sector at (619) 498-9900.