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  4. Border Patrol Agents Prevent a Human Smuggling Attempt Involving Two Vehicles

Border Patrol Agents Prevent a Human Smuggling Attempt Involving Two Vehicles

Release Date
Fri, 09/21/2018

LAREDO, Texas – Border Patrol agents assigned to the Laredo South Station recently prevented a human smuggling attempt involving two vehicles. 

Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents apprehended 12 aliens in a tandem vehicle smuggling attempt
Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents
apprehended 12 illegal aliens smuggled
in tandem vehicles that had failed to
yield to Border Patrol agents and arrested
both drivers. 

The incident occurred on September 20, shortly after 6:00 p.m., when agents observed several subjects boarding two vehicles on the side of the road near the Webb County and Zapata County line on U.S. Highway 83.  Agents reported the vehicles began to drive north in tandem. Moments later, the agents stopped the second vehicle, a Dodge Ram pickup, to conduct an immigration inspection.  Immediately after coming to a stop, the driver fled on foot and left his truck in reverse gear, causing his truck to hit a Border Patrol vehicle.  Agents apprehended the driver and determined that he was a United States citizen.  The eight passengers in the vehicle were determined to be illegal aliens. 

The first vehicle, a Kia Soul, continued driving north towards Laredo when agents attempted a vehicle stop.   The driver of the vehicle failed to yield to agents which resulted in a vehicle pursuit.  The driver of the Kia Soul also employed a dangerous tactic to distract agents by exiting his vehicle while it was still in motion and left in drive gear.   The vehicle came to a stop when it collided with another vehicle at a private residence.  

 Agents arrested the driver, a United States citizen, and four illegal aliens from the Kia Soul.  All of the individuals were processed accordingly. 

The 12 illegal aliens were determined to be from the countries of Mexico and Guatemala.  The Dodge Ram pickup was seized by the United States Border Patrol and Kia Soul was turned over to the custody of the Laredo Police Department.   

To report suspicious activity such as alien and/or drug smuggling, download the “USBP Laredo Sector” App or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021