EDINBURG, Texas – Border Patrol agents disrupt two human smuggling attempts and discover two foreign nationals not commonly found in a stash house.
Yesterday, Rio Grande Valley Sector agents working in collaboration with the Hidalgo County Constable’s Office (HCCO) received information of home in McAllen, Texas, operating as a human smuggling stash house. Upon arrival, agents observed a vehicle leave the location and requested for a HCCO deputy to conduct a vehicle stop. During the stop, the passenger identified herself as the homeowner in question and consented to a search of the residence. Upon entry, law enforcement officers located two female Korean nationals who admitted to being in the country illegally. Further interviews of the homeowner revealed she was also living illegally in the United States. Agents arrested the three females and transported them to the station for processing.
Later, Kingsville agents working at the Javier Vega, Jr. checkpoint referred a blue Honda Accord to secondary following a K-9 alert. At secondary, a search of the trunk revealed three illegal aliens. Agents determined the subjects to be from Mexico and Peru. Agents escorted all the subjects to the station for processing.
That same evening, Brownsville agents observed several subjects getting into a parked Blue Jeep Cherokee. As the agents approached the vehicle, two subjects fled to a nearby neighborhood and avoided apprehension. A search of the Jeep led to the discovery of five subjects. Agents took everyone into custody and transported them to the station for processing.
Border Patrol processed the cases accordingly.
The Rio Grande Valley Sector currently has multiple campaigns focused on rescues and danger awareness, such as “Operation Big Rig” and “No Se Arriesgue” to combat smuggling and ultimately save lives. Call 911 to report suspicious activity; “They’re humans, not cargo!”
The public is encouraged to take a stand against crime in their communities and report suspicious activity at 800-863-9382
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Even with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, human smugglers continue to try these brazen attempts with zero regard for the lives they endanger nor to the health of the citizens of our great nation. The U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grande Valley Sector will continue to safeguard the nation and community against these criminal elements.
Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter @CBPRGV, @USBPChiefRGV and @USBPDepChiefRGV.