Ep 4. Bunked in a Trunk

To Catch a Smuggler is an investigative series that follows US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers as they work tirelessly to combat smuggling. Season 4 episode 4, titled "Bunked in a Trunk," introduces viewers to the challenges that CBP officers face while inspecting a vehicle for contraband.

The episode opens with CBP Officer Raul, who is stationed at the Hidalgo Port of Entry in Texas. Officer Raul is preparing to inspect a vehicle that has just arrived at the port. The officers are especially vigilant due to the high number of drug and human smuggling attempts that are reported in the area. Officer Raul and his team inspect the driver's license and registration, then ask the driver to open the trunk.

When they open the trunk, they discover a large duffel bag. Upon further inspection, they find that there are no clothes or personal items in the bag. Instead, the bag is filled with several packages wrapped in layers of plastic and tape. Officer Raul is suspicious and decides to bring in a K-9 unit to check for drugs.

The K-9 unit quickly identifies the packages as containing illegal narcotics. The officers then take the vehicle and its driver into custody. They later discover that the driver was acting as a mule for a drug cartel.

The episode then turns to Officer Juan, who is also stationed at the Hidalgo Port of Entry. Officer Juan is responsible for inspecting vehicles that are crossing the border from Mexico into the United States. He stops a minivan and asks the driver to open the trunk. When the driver hesitates, Officer Juan becomes suspicious and asks him to step out of the vehicle.

Officer Juan then proceeds to carefully inspect the minivan. He finds that the vehicle has been modified with secret compartments. Upon opening one of the compartments, he discovers a young woman who has been smuggled into the United States. Officer Juan calls for backup and the woman is taken into custody.

The final segment of the episode focuses on the CBP team working at the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Officer Derrick is responsible for inspecting luggage that is arriving on international flights. He stops a man who has just arrived from Colombia and is acting nervously.

Upon inspecting the man's luggage, Officer Derrick discovers a large number of designer handbags and shoes. He becomes suspicious and proceeds to investigate further. He eventually uncovers that the man is a smuggler who is attempting to evade customs duties by claiming that the items are personal belongings.

"Bunked in a Trunk" is just one example of the types of cases that CBP officers must handle on a daily basis. Through their investigative skills, intelligence gathering, and use of technology and trained K-9s, they are able to thwart numerous smuggling attempts and keep the United States safe from harm.