NEAR FALFURRIAS – An investigation is underway after a body was discovered inside a tractor-trailer at the Falfurrias checkpoint.

Last week, U.S. Border Patrol agents referred a tractor-trailer rig to secondary inspection. Inside, they found a person in the country illegally being smuggled in a closet-like compartment.

The driver and the person being smuggled were taken into custody.

Three days later, a call to the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office revealed a decomposed body was still inside the seized tractor.

Brooks County Sheriff Benny Martinez pulled the body out from underneath a bed area of the tractor. He described the man as being in a fetal position, wearing jeans and a blue shirt.

He said the man had a wallet containing identification.

Martinez said it’s likely a foul smelled led Border Patrol agents to discover the body three days later.

“In this case, that’s probably what happened. Because they even saw some buzzards flying over the truck, so that’s a big red flag,” he said. “It’s just one of those issues that – I think that’s maybe the first time they deal with – so it’s hard, it was quite an impact on all of us,” he said.

The body was sent to the Brooks County medical examiner, which will process fingerprints to confirm the identity. Maggots found on the body are also being tested to determine a time of death.

Border Patrol along with the Mexican consulate will be working to find the victim’s family.

Martinez said he, along with other federal and state agencies, have a long investigation ahead before figuring out exactly what happened.