Border Patrol Intercepts Large Human Smuggling Effort

Victor Westerkamp
By Victor Westerkamp
March 11, 2020US News
share
Border Patrol Intercepts Large Human Smuggling Effort
A bus transporting immigrants leaves a temporary facility at a US Border Patrol Station in Clint, Texas, on June 21, 2019 (Paul Ratje/AFP/Getty Images)

Border Patrol agents intercepted a sizeable human smuggling attempt at the Interstate Highway 35 Checkpoint just north of Laredo, Texas, involving 85 adults and five juveniles, according to a March 10 release.

The incident happened on the evening of March 5 when a gray tractor pulling a white trailer was held at the Interstate checkpoint by Border Patrol officers for inspection. Alerted by a K-9, officers requested the trailer to be opened for inspection.

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Logo.
US Department of Homeland Security emblem is pictured at the National Cybersecurity & Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) located just outside Washington in Arlington, Virginia, Sept. 24, 2010. (REUTERS/Hyungwon Kang)

“Upon opening the trailer, agents discovered a large group of people inside. A total of 90 people, including five unaccompanied juveniles, were discovered and removed from the trailer,” the statement read.

The passengers were from the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, and were all without proper paperwork. All passengers and the driver—a U.S. citizen—were taken into custody and transferred to Homeland Security Investigations.

ntd newsletter icon
Sign up for NTD Daily
What you need to know, summarized in one email.
Stay informed with accurate news you can trust.
By registering for the newsletter, you agree to the Privacy Policy.
Comments