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Woman uses medical transport van in smuggling attempt at U.S.-Mexico border

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An Arizona woman was arrested for attempting to smuggle two people across the U.S./Mexico border in a medical transport van.

Customs and Border Patrol agents stopped a medical transport minivan on Nov. 21 at the Federal Route 15 Immigration Checkpoint near Nogales, according to border crossing officials.

Officials referred the minivan for a secondary inspection after a blanket was spotted covering something on the floorboards.

Upon further review, two women were discovered hiding under blankets in the vehicle, illegally in the United States, officials say.

Officials arrested the 48-year-old driver on human smuggling charges. They arrested the two women on immigration violations.

An additional two other occupants in the vehicle were initially arrested, but have since been released.