Police Seeing Rise in Number of Female Smugglers

Jul 8, 2013 5:35 PM

PALMVIEW - Authorities said they're seeing a shift in human smuggling tactics.
They're seeing more female smugglers.

The latest example happened in Palmview this morning. Officers there said a routine traffic stop around 7:45 a.m. turned into a high-speed chase. The pursuit ended 30 miles away in Donna, when the suspect crashed.

Saul Uvalle of the Palmview Police Department said the officer in pursuit had reduced his speed and shut off his lights, but he continued following the driver.
"It's not very common for us to travel this far out of our jurisdiction. But when situations get like this and the driver is getting desperate to get away from police... they will take extreme measures to get away from police," explained Uvalle.

When police eventually arrested the woman, her 14-year-old son was in the passenger seat.

CHANNEL 5 NEWS saw the woman in the police unit. She said she didn't want her photo taken. She told us she fears cartel members will find out she was arrested and the 10 illegal immigrants she's accused of transporting are being deported.

Law enforcement officials said young males are usually the ones caught transporting illegals. In recent months, Palmview police have seen a shift to women.

"It's not very common, but we are seeing it more and more now for it to be a female driver to take risks, whether it be human trafficking or narcotics," said Uvalle.

No one was injured in this chase. Police said the driver faces a number of charges including child endangerment and evading police.

http://www.krgv.com/news/police-seei...ale-smugglers/