Border Agents Thwart Human Smuggling Attempt

LAREDO, TX – Last week agents with the U.S. Border Patrol stopped a significant human smuggling attempt inside a refrigerated truck north of Laredo.

According to CBP, on January 6 a commercial refrigerated tractor-trailer approached the I-35 checkpoint. 

During a routine inspection, a service canine alerted the agents and the driver was referred to a secondary inspection.

The driver disregarded the agents and continued to the checkpoint's exit and onto I-35.

Border agents then conducted a traffic stop just north of the checkpoint and the tractor-trailer was escorted back.

Inside the refrigerated truck, agents found 126 individuals, none of them were wearing PPE.

The individuals were identified as illegal immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Ecuador. 

They were placed under arrest along with the driver, a U.S. citizen, pending further investigation by Special Agents of Homeland Security Investigations. 

The U.S. Border Patrol seized both the tractor and trailer. 

"Human smugglers continue to have no regard for the safety and health of the people they exploit for profit," said USBP in a statement. "With a noted increase in COVID-19 infections among detainees, the transporting of large groups of people without PPE in close dangerous quarters endangers the individuals and safety of our Nation. The Laredo Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol focuses on its enduring mission priorities of countering terrorism, combatting transnational crime, securing the border, facilitating lawful trade, protecting revenue, and facilitating lawful travel. "