A 35-year-old man attempting to cross the U.S.-Mexico border was found dead near Otay Mountain Tuesday morning, leading to the arrest of a man for human smuggling, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) confirmed.
Monday evening, the U.S. Border patrol was notified by Mexican officials that they had received a call from a woman claiming she was lost north of the border. She told officials her husband was very sick and was suffering from dehydration.
Border Patrol agents, the Border Patrol Search, Trauma, and Rescue (BORSTAR) along with CBP Air and Marine Operations launched a search for the couple.
The woman was found two miles north of the border around 6:45 p.m. Tuesday, CBP said. Her husband's body was found at approximately 8 a.m. near the same area.
According to CBP, the 22-year-old woman and her 35-year-old husband are Mexican nationals.
Agents were able to link the couple to a group of six people taken into custody approximately five miles north of the border near Dulzara.
All were Mexican nationals, according to CBP.
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A 23-year-old man was arrested and charged with human smuggling.
"Due to this tragic result, the smuggler should face the highest consequences," said Acting Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Boone Smith.
