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A Rio Grande Valley woman is under arrest after trying to smuggle two people in the country illegally through the Sarita Border Patrol checkpoint to pay off a $4,000 debt she owed to a game room, according to a criminal complaint.
Border Patrol arrested Veronica Mosquera after she arrived at the checkpoint on Thursday at approximately 8:30 a.m. in a 2022 Nissan Altima.
While being questioned about her citizenship, Mosquera said she was traveling to Austin, which is when a K-9 alerted to Mosquera’s vehicle, prompting her to appear upset and to lower her head.
“The primary agent asked Mosquera if there were people hiding in the trunk,” the complaint stated. “Mosquera responded by stating, ‘Yes I do.’”
Border Patrol then found the two people in the trunk.
During an interview, Mosquera told agents about the $4,000 debt and said it would be paid off if she successfully completed the smuggling attempt, but she noted that she did not know whether she would be smuggling drugs or people.
Mosquera made a first appearance Monday in Corpus Christi federal court in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Julie K. Hampton, who ordered her temporarily held without bond.
