Border Agents Arrest U.S. Citizen Smuggling Illegal Aliens in Fake UPS Van

U.S. Border Patrol agents in Niland, Calif. arrested a 21-year-old U.S. citizen on Friday for smuggling illegal immigrants into the U.S. using a counterfeit UPS van.

The van aroused suspicion from border agents after the driver tried to avoid a highway checkpoint. Following a vehicle stop, agents found 13 individuals in the back of the van, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) press release. The passengers were described as "Mexican citizens without legal immigration documents."

"After further investigation, agents determined that the van was not a legitimate UPS van," the release said. "The driver and illegal aliens were arrested and the cloned UPS van was seized."

Smuggling illegal immigrants in the back of vans is certainly no new tactic, but it appears that smugglers are continuing to think up new ways to fool law enforcement.

There are no references to guns, drugs or any other nefarious activities in the U.S. CBP press release. Attempts to contact CBP officials for additional information were unsuccessful. The El Centro Sector CBP was behind the bust.

This story is developing and may be updated.