U. S. Border Patrol agents at the Highway 111 immigration checkpoint near Niland arrested a 37-year old man attempting to smuggle 6 illegal aliens Friday morning.

The man was driving a Volvo SUV that was found to have been stolen about 4 weeks ago. Just to add another element , a loaded 9mm handgun was found under the front passengers seat. There were five adult men and a juvenile female that were all in this country illegally. All are citizens of Mexico. The driver , a U. S. citizen , is being held in federal custody pending criminal prosecution.