According to Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay, a sophisticated human trafficking network includes the four men and one woman detained on smuggling charges in the Florida Keys.
The arrests were made public by Ramsay’s agency on Tuesday. The group arrived in Key Largo by boat, and the five are suspected of smuggling seven Chinese nationals and thirteen Ecuadorian nationals into South Florida.
The suspects were stopped and detained in Florida City by agents from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine, according to the authorities, who then made the arrests. According to an arrest record, the migrants were dropped off by a go-fast boat and then loaded into two SUVs.
The suspects were identified by officials as HUMBERTO Tamayo, 48, of Miami; OMAR LIvan Ripoll Perez, 28, of Miami; Dianelys Perez Escouredo, 44, of Miami; and Victor Victor Febles Gualpa, 38, of West Palm Beach.
“It appeared to be a very well-organized human trafficking, human smuggling operation,” Ramsay stated.
It is said that the migrants arrived through the Bahamas.
As per the arrest report, the migrants from Ecuador informed the authorities that they had paid a total of $12,000 to reach their final destination in the New York and New Jersey area, $3,000 in the Bahamas, $4,000 in Ecuadorian currency to leave Ecuador, and $20,000 to be smuggled.
Two cars and a “couple of boats” were taken by the authorities, according to Ramsay. The Chevy Traverse that is currently being detained in Marathon was one of the vehicles, and the other was a rental automobile.
According to Ramsay, the U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to press charges, thus local prosecutors have decided to try the case.
Since last year, there has been a sharp increase of Chinese migrants entering the country illegally, prompting fears from some legislators about national security.
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Many travel via Ecuador and the southern border with Mexico to reach their destination. However, more people are moving to South Florida; in May, ten Chinese immigrants arrived at Sunny Isles Beach.
“It’s got to raise your eyebrow and (make you) a little concerned about what’s happening,” Ramsay stated. “Why they are coming here? Is it just for a better way of life? Is it nefarious?”
A representative for Homeland Security Investigations, Nestor Yglesias, stated that the organization is actively engaged. To report any information regarding this alleged smuggling incident, call 877-4-HSI-TIP, the organization’s tip line.
