On Thursday, Texas law enforcement broke up a human smuggling operation that resulted in the rescue of 26 migrants from hot conditions and the arrest of seven alleged smugglers.
On Thursday morning, the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office learned about a human smuggling operation involving several dozen persons. Sheriff Javier Salazar informed reporters that the department was aware of the smuggling scheme, which featured a long, gooseneck trailer driving to a rural property outside of San Antonio.
While the nationalities of all the migrants were unknown, Salazar said a Guatemalan woman in the group told officials she paid $16,000 to be smuggled into the United States, describing it as “a big money operation.”
On Thursday in San Antonio, Texas, a Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy, on the right, walks alongside a lady who is handcuffed during an investigation. (Photo by Darren Abate/AP)
He said that the trailer originated in the Laredo region, though it’s unclear if all of the migrants were already in the country or had only recently arrived.
Following the report, several law enforcement agencies, including the sheriff’s office, tracked down the trailer and arrived at what Salazar described as an open-air hut, complete with buckets for toilets, no running water, no air conditioning, and windows open in triple digit temps.
“I didn’t even see any source of drinking water,” Salazar stated. “But it’s miserable conditions…and it’s just blazing hot in there.”
Behind the house, additional bulletproof vests and long guns were found, according to investigators.
“I don’t know if any of those rifles were automatic or semi-automatic, but it is quite possible,” Salazar stated. “I mean, obviously, those are natural things to find in a smuggling operation like this. Clearly cartel related.”
It looked like the smugglers were offloading passengers from the rig when the trailer pulled up to a house, but Salazar claimed it was a “decoy.” He clarified that there was a sizable fake compartment beneath the trailer that had 26 migrants who were laying there.
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According to Salazar, the migrants claimed to have spent up to three hours in the stuffy false compartment during their transportation from the border.
EMS personnel responded to treat the migrants because they had been exposed to inclement weather, and 11 of them were sent to adjacent hospitals.
Salazar stated that numerous individuals fled on foot as the home was being secured by law authorities. After receiving no medical attention at hospitals, the migrants were brought to police headquarters to be questioned.
The operation to smuggle people is thought to have crossed the southern border close to Laredo, Texas, according to the authorities.
Reporters were informed by Salazar that it was unknown if all 26 migrants were, in fact, victims. He clarified that coyotes may attempt to pass for migrants or blend in with the throng.
Investigators stated during interrogation that they intended to distinguish between those who were and weren’t migrants.
According to Salazar, all of the migrants were adults, with the youngest being eighteen.
