Thread: Laredo Trucks Drivers, Others Charged in Massive Human

Laredo Trucks Drivers, Others Charged in Massive Human Smuggling Scheme

Updated: March 26, 2008 02:05 PM PDT


They are believed to have smuggled hundreds of illegal immigrants into the United States but now, 41 truck drivers, guides, brokers, recruiters and smuggling leaders are facing criminal charges.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents started the investigation in Laredo but made the arrests across several American cities over the last seven weeks.

Investigators said the group used truck drivers to smuggle at least 376 illegal immigrants from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras into the United States.

Most of the immigrants were discovered tractor trailers and attempting to pass through different checkpoints in and around Laredo.

Most of the discoveries were made during routine inspections after they noticed suspicious activity coming from inside the trailers or they were alerted by on-site canines on duty.

Each immigrant allegedly paid $500 to $3,000 depending on their destination.

All 41 of the accused human smugglers have already appeared before a federal judge to face formal charges and have been provided a court date to plead their case.

Officials compared the smuggling acts to a fatal attempt in Victoria, Texas that resulted in the deaths of 19 immigrants in 2003.

"ICE works closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office to bring criminal charges against anyone who disregards our immigration laws, and who recklessly risks the lives of their passengers," said Jerry Robinette, special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in San Antonio. "ICE is steadfastly shutting down vulnerabilities in our immigration system by attacking and dismantling the organized criminal networks that transport illegal aliens for profit."

It's common for illegal alien traffic to increase along the southern border this time of year but agents reported that fiscal year 2008 so far has been unusually busy, especially where truck drivers are involved.

Robinette encourages the vast majority of truck drivers who are honest to stay vigilant and report suspicious activity by calling ICE's toll-free hotline at: (866) 347-2423.







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Smugglers don't care who they are smuggling into our country--they well could be smuggling terrorists, gang members, murderers, rapists, pedophiles, people ill with communiable diseases, people who have been deported before, along with illegal aliens looking for jobs or joining family.

So why aren't human smugglers charged as terrorists?

No government can help the destinies of people who insist in putting sectional and class consciousness ahead of general weal.
Franklin D. Roosevelt

It's common for illegal alien traffic to increase along the southern border this time of year but agents reported that fiscal year 2008 so far has been unusually busy, especially where truck drivers are involved.







How much of this has everything to do with those Mexican trucks rolling freely into this country?

2008 so far has been unusually busy, especially where truck drivers are involved.

Hmmm..........is Secretary of Transporation Mary Peters aiding and abetting illegal alien smugglers?

How many got by them...I am sending this article to Sen. Dorgan, he is mighty mad at Mary Peters!!


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I guess human cargo pays more than trucking bannas and avacados,

Gee, who wouldn't have see this coming. I guess Mary Peters didn't.

Agents Arrest 41 Truck Drivers, Associates in Human Smuggling Busts

Last Update: 3/27 11:08 am


Many of the smuggled aliens were transported in a manner that seriously endangered their lives, including being locked inside air-tight trailers. (ICE) Agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have arrested 41 truck drivers and their associates in the Laredo area in connection with the smuggling of 376 illegal aliens into the United States.

The arrests started at the beginning of February and took place over a 7-week period.

Most of the aliens were found hiding inside several tractor trailers. Agents with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Border Patrol contacted ICE after they noticed suspicious activity coming from inside the trailers or were alerted by on-site dogs on duty.

According to an ICE news release, many of the smuggled illegal aliens were transported in a manner that seriously endangered their lives, including being locked inside air-tight trailers.

"ICE works closely with the U.S. Attorney's Office to bring criminal charges against anyone who disregards our immigration laws, and who recklessly risks the lives of their passengers," said Jerry Robinette, special agent-in-charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in San Antonio. "ICE is steadfastly shutting down vulnerabilities in our immigration system by attacking and dismantling the organized criminal networks that transport illegal aliens for profit."

Most of the truck drivers arrested were from the U.S. Those arrested also include smuggling guides, brokers, recruiters and organizational heads.

ICE officials said the illegal aliens came from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador and paid $500 and $3000 to their smuggler.

ICE officials added that 2008 has been unusually busy so far.

You can report suspicious activity by calling ICE's toll-free hotline at: 1-866-347-2423.

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