Police Catch Suspected Smuggler Driving Used Utility Truck

Reported by: Camaron Abundes
Last Update: 1:25 am

LA JOYA - La Joya police are trying to figure out how a suspected smuggler got behind the wheel of a used utility vehicle. The vehicle had an AT&T company logo on the driver side door.

Officers received a tip about a suspicious vehicle in the area and tried to stop the driver. He sped away and bailed out north of FM 492 and Mile 3 in La Joya.

When they searched the vehicle police found 11 illegal immigrants crammed in the bed of the truck.

Sergio Garcia noticed the commotion from his niece's ranch.

"I was just talking with my niece. We were saying how dangerous it is because a lot of them run into the trees. They disappear and then come out," said Garcia.

Garcia is a Valley native and can't get over how much things have changed. His family makes sure their gates are always locked.

The immigrants told police they were from El Salvador. There's no word on how long they stayed inside the cramped metal space.

La Joya Police Chief Julian Guttierez says they'll continue working to figure out if the truck was cloned for smuggling. A spokesperson for AT&T says they are also looking into the situation.

Police caught the drive but believe one person got away. Border patrol agents took the illegal immigrants into custody.

http://www.krgv.com/news/local/story/Po ... YPDnA.cspx