Skip to main content

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. Law Enforcement Cooperation Shuts Down Stash Houses

Law Enforcement Cooperation Shuts Down Stash Houses

Release Date
Thu, 12/17/2020

LAREDO, TEXAS – Within hours of each other, Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents along with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Laredo Police Department (LPD), Webb County Attorney’s Office (WCAO) officers, and Webb County Constables Precinct 2 (WCCO) deputies shut down two separate stash houses nabbing 25 illegal aliens in Laredo. 

The first incident occurred during the midafternoon of December 15, when agents working with LPD, WCCO, and WCAO, acted on information of suspicious activity at a home on Vidaurri Avenue.  A consensual search of the residence resulted in the discovery of 13 individuals.  They were determined to be illegally in the United States and from the country of Mexico. 

Approximately three hours later, agents along with HSI and WCCO, performed a consensual search of a residence on Arkansas Avenue which resulted in the discovery of 12 individuals.  They were determined to be illegally in the United States and from the countries of Mexico and Honduras. 

In both incidences none of the individuals were wearing any personal protective equipment (PPE). All of the individuals were medically screened and taken into custody pending further investigation.stash house in Laredo

Laredo Chief Patrol Agent Matthew Hudak stated, “Criminals do not take the holiday season off and neither do our agents and their law enforcement partners.  In these two cases, agents and their partners stopped 25 aliens from furthering their illegal entry into the United States. When the aliens were found and arrested, they were not wearing face coverings or any other protective equipment, completely disregarding worldwide practices to stop the spread of COVID-19.”

Despite a noted increase in COVID-19 infections among detainees, the smuggling and housing of large groups of individuals in stash houses without PPE not only endangers the people being smuggled, but the safety of our Nation.  The Laredo Sector is made up of agents who partner with their law enforcement counterparts to meet the agency’s Enduring Mission Priorities of countering terrorism, combatting transnational crime, securing the border, and facilitating lawful trade and travel while protecting revenue.

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 official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 29, 2024