translated from Spanish: Us finds 11 Chinese hiding in furniture and equipment

SAN DIEGO (AP) — U.S. federal migration authorities found 11 Chinese citizens hiding in furniture and appliances inside a truck as they entered California from Mexico via a border crossing. At least one person was tucked into a washing machine and another was nestled inside a wooden chest, according to photos provided Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Authorities searched the truck Saturday night at the border crossing between Tijuana, Mexico, and San Diego, the federal agency said. The driver of the truck, a 42-year-old U.S. citizen, was arrested on suspicion of people smuggling, according to an ICE statement. His name wasn’t released.
The 11 Chinese citizens were detained pending criminal and immigration proceedings, the statement added.

“These are human beings that smugglers subject to inhumane conditions that could have deadly consequences,” said Pete Flores, director of field operations in San Diego for ICE, quoted in the statement. “Fortunately, no one was seriously injured,” he added. Six Chinese citizens were found a month ago at the same border crossing, hiding behind a fake wall in a truck trying to enter the United States, authorities reported.

Original source in Spanish