Thread: TX: Round Rock PD: Stopped pickup packed with illegal immigr

Video at the source link.
~~

Round Rock PD: Stopped pickup packed with illegal immigrants

05:58 PM CDT on Friday, March 14, 2008

By MELISSA MCGUIRE
KVUE News


One day after Austin police issued a warning about human smuggling, Round Rock police busted a pickup truck they say was packed with 12 illegal immigrants.

Traffic on Interstate 35 northbound slowed Friday morning as onlookers tried to catch a glimpse of the major bust by the Round Rock Police Department.

"It's a truck load of what appears to be illegal immigrants," said Eric Poteet, Round Rock police spokesman.

An officer pulled over the truck for speeding, but they say that was the most minor of the violations to come.

"The driver pulled over immediately. As soon as the officer got on the roadside, he saw the reverse lights come on. He saw a bunch of movement in the back and didn't know what he had. So he asked for assistance. That's why you see so many officers here," said Poteet.

Once back-up arrived, police discovered a truck-load of people they say are illegal immigrants.

"We have exactly 12 people, including the driver. None of them have any identification or documentation so they're assumed to be illegal immigrants," said Poteet.

Police say five people were hiding under a blanket in the truck bed. Seven were crowded in the cab.

The backseat of the truck is completely gone. This is the exact scenario Austin Police spoke about Thursday.

APD showed KVUE News pictures of stolen trucks from Austin used by a human smuggling ring.

"They're immediately taking the back seat out of the truck, putting wooden support blocks into the rear axle springs to support the extra weight, making a run down to South Texas grabbing a load of illegal immigrants and coming back to Austin," said Sgt. Robert Hightower, Austin Police Department, on Thursday.

The truck pulled over in Round Rock was heading northbound on I-35. It's not known yet where it was coming from or where it was headed.

Police aren't convinced it is a work truck, like it appears to be.

"Ripping up a vehicle to make more space to cram human bodies into -- that's something we're just now beginning to see," said Poteet. “It's just like the amount of drugs that go northbound, the amount of money that goes southbound. This highway is a conduit for crime. That's why we have so much of a presence here.

Authorities say the vehicle is not reported as stolen. It's registered out of Dallas.

Round Rock Police handed over all 12 people to officials with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

www.kvue.com

Sp glad to see they were caught. Seems those criminal human smugglers will do just about anything they can to make money.