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Illegal immigration has once again dominated the news, as smugglers attempt to outsmart law enforcement officials with their devious tactics. In a recent incident, a bogus US Customs and Border Protection truck carrying 17 migrants was caught trying to cross the border by American and Mexican authorities. This comes as no surprise, as human smugglers continue to use any means necessary to deceive and exploit vulnerable individuals.

Mexican immigration officials first noticed something was awry when they spotted the strange-looking vehicle attempting to cross into California on Saturday. The pickup truck was outfitted with decal stickers replicating those of official CBP trucks, giving the false impression that it was a legitimate vehicle. To top it off, the smugglers even went so far as to add fake Department of Homeland Security license plates.

The criminals responsible for this heinous act had no regard for the safety or well-being of the migrants they were transporting. It’s likely they duped them into thinking their operation was flawless, convincing them that the truck was a US Border Patrol vehicle with a predetermined agreement. They were promised that authorities wouldn’t ask any questions before allowing them to cross the border.

Thankfully, the smugglers were apprehended by border patrol agents, and the migrants were transferred to police headquarters in Tijuana. The truck, which had been confiscated by US authorities, was just one of many such vehicles used by human smugglers to deceive authorities and exploit migrants.

This incident is not the first time US and Mexican officials have encountered a cloned CBP truck. In a similar incident earlier this year, Homeland Security and Border Patrol agents stopped another fake CBP vehicle carrying 10 migrants near the Tucson border. These incidents demonstrate the increasingly desperate and deceptive tactics employed by smugglers to ply their deadly trade.

Unfortunately, CBP trucks aren’t the only disguises that human smugglers are using these days. Officials have reported that cloned FedEx vehicles were used in an attempt to smuggle 26 migrants into El Paso last month. These vehicles were customized to look like typical white FedEx vans, allowing smugglers to blend in with legitimate courier traffic.

Immigration officials place the blame for these horrific incidents on money-hungry cartels. These criminal organizations often downplay the risks of crossing the border, putting the lives of vulnerable migrants at risk. Tragically, a record number of migrant deaths have been reported since October, with 96 bodies already recovered. Until something is done to stop the cartels and their enablers, this sad trend is likely to continue.