AWOL California National Guardsman ‘tried to smuggle three Mexican immigrants into the US for up to $21,000 by hiding them under blankets in his car ‘
- Private First Class Edward Acosta-Avila and another US citizen were pulled over near the Otay Mesa border crossing outside San Diego on November 10
- Border agents discovered three Mexican nationals hiding under a blanket in backseat of Acosta-Avila’s Honda Accord
- Migrants claimed they agreed to pay $6,000-$7,000 each for the crossing
- Acosta-Avila and his friend have been charged with transportation of certain aliens for financial gain
A California National Guardsman has been arrested for allegedly trying to smuggle three Mexican nationals into the US in exchange for cash.
Private First Class Edward Acosta-Avila and another US citizen were pulled over near the Otay Mesa border crossing outside San Diego at 4pm on November 10.
When US Customers and Border Protection agents inspected Acosta-Avila’s Honda Accord, they found three Mexican migrants hiding under a blanket in the backseat.
California National Guardsman Pfc Edward Acosta-Avila and another US citizen were arrested on November 10 at the Otay Mesa border cross in California during their attempt to smuggle three Mexican nationals into the US (stock image)
Acosta-Avila, who at the time was in the process of being discharged from the National Guard for going AWOL, told federal authorities that he and his friend were planning to split $400 for sneaking the illegal migrants into the US, reported USA Today.
But when questioned by the agents, the Mexican nationals told them they had agreed to pay $6,000-$7,000 each for the border crossing.
Acosta-Avila and his alleged accomplice have been charged with transportation of certain aliens for financial gain.
In response to an email seeking comment about Acosta-Avila, a National Guard spokesperson told DailyMail.com on Monday of the suspect: ‘he was in a civilian status, not on orders, and had not attended scheduled drills in several months.’
The three undocumented migrants are being held as witnesses in the human smuggling case and will later face standard deportation proceedings, reported Army Times.
Acosta-Avila was reportedly not part of the 7,000 active-duty troops who have been deployed by President Donald Trump to the US-Mexico border in anticipation of the arrival of multiple caravans of migrants from Central America.
Costa-Avila was reportedly not part of the 7,000 active-duty troops who have been deployed by President Donald Trump to the US-Mexico border (Pictured: a view in the early morning in Tijuana, Mexico near the primary border fence that divides Otay Mesa, California(L) and Tijuana(R), Mexico)