LAREDO, Texas – Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents assigned to the Freer Station rescued almost 50 people who were found during an alleged human smuggling attempt locked inside a trailer near Freer, Texas.
The incident occurred shortly after midnight on September 15, when a tractor-trailer approached the checkpoint on U.S. Highway 59. During primary inspection, a Service canine alerted to the conveyance and agents referred it to secondary for further inspection. During the inspection, agents discovered almost 50 individuals locked inside the trailer and the interior temperature was over 90 degrees Fahrenheit. All individuals were in the U.S. illegally and were from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
Human smugglers continue to have no regard for the safety and health of the people they exploit as they are treated like a commodity for profit. Laredo Sector agents focus on the agency’s enduring mission priorities of countering terrorism, combating transnational crime, securing the border, facilitating lawful trade, protecting revenue, and facilitating lawful travel.
Help take a stand against criminal organizations and their potentially dangerous acts by reporting suspicious activity. To report suspicious activity such as human and/or drug smuggling, contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994.