LAREDO, Texas – On March 5, 2018, Border Patrol agents responded to assist the Frio County Sheriff’s Office regarding an attempted smuggling attempt on Interstate Highway 35, near Moore, Texas. Fifteen subjects were found in a trailer and determined to be illegally in the United States. The truck driver, a United States Citizen, was arrested. One of the 15 illegal aliens that was found had to be taken to the hospital due to heat related injuries. They were determined to be from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala and Peru. One of the smuggled aliens, Juan De La Luz Vega, a Mexican National, was identified as a convicted Sex Offender and having an outstanding warrant as a Predatory Offender.
“These criminal organizations view these individuals as mere commodities without regard for their safety. The blatant disregard for human life will not be tolerated. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt and dismantle these organizations and prosecute those responsible,” said Laredo Sector Assistant Chief Patrol Agent Gabriel Acosta.
The Laredo Sector Border Patrol will continue to warn against the dangers of people crossing illegally into the United States through dangerous environmental conditions. Our Border Safety Initiative (BSI) is a humanitarian, bi-national strategy designed to reduce illegal alien deaths, educate and inform potential illegal aliens of the dangers and hazards of crossing the border illegally, and to respond to those who are in life-threatening situations.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has the lead on this incident.
To report suspicious activity such as alien and/or drug smuggling, contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free telephone number at 1-800-343-1994. All people apprehended by the Border Patrol undergo criminal history checks using biometrics to ensure illegal aliens with criminal histories are positively identified.