Three Smuggling Interdictions Lead To 36 Arrests

Three Smuggling Interdictions Lead To 36 Arrests



Release Date: March 23, 2022


EDINBURG, Texas – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents disrupted three migrant smuggling attempts resulting in 36 arrests.

On March 21, Kingsville Border Patrol Station agents working at the Javier Vega Jr. Border Patrol Checkpoint referred a tractor hauling a refrigerated trailer to the secondary inspection area following a K-9 alert.

A search of the trailer revealed 19 migrants hiding among the produce. Agents determined the driver and his passenger son were United States citizens and the 19 migrants were Central American and Mexican nationals unlawfully in the U.S.

All subjects were placed under arrest and escorted into the checkpoint. The temperature of the refrigerated trailer was 50.8 degrees Fahrenheit at the time of the encounter.

On March 22, RGV agents received information of a possible stash house in Edinburg, Texas. RGV agents responded to the location and encountered six migrants unlawfully present in the United States and transported them to a station.

Shortly after that interdiction, agents received information of migrants possibly being harbored in a Rio Grande City residence. Agents, along with Texas Department of Public Safety troopers responded to the location where they apprehended ten Guatemalan nationals without incident. No caretaker was identified.

All subjects were processed accordingly.

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter @CBPRGV and @USBPChiefRGV.


https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-m...ead-36-arrests