U.S. Customs agents are catching fewer people trying to enter the U.S. illegally by hiding in passenger cars. Apprehensions of undocumented migrants smuggled in cars dropped by half this year compared to last year, according to a story on the KPBS-Radio website. 

San Diego Customs officials say human smugglers have shifted tactics in response to a customs’ crackdown on smuggling in vehicles. Customs Director Adel Fasano said the fine for a first-time smuggler who lives in the U.S. legally is now $5000. She said that’s different than before.

“Number one is we engaged in an aggressive public safety campaign warning migrants of the dangers of getting into compartments and trunks,” Fasano told KPBS.  “We have also greatly enhanced the consequences that the smugglers face. And we instituted the fine for individuals who smuggle who don’t meet the prosecution standards.”

Though customs agents found fewer undocumented migrants hiding in cars, agents apprehended more people trying to enter the U.S. illegally by claiming they’re U.S. Citizens. Fasano told KPBS that the good news is that customs officials have disrupted smuggling patterns, but the bad news is that smugglers have not given up.