Troopers from the Texas Department of Public Safety intercepted a human smuggling operation on US-90 in Kinney County. They pulled over a black Cadillac XT5 that was being driven by a woman from San Antonio. The officers arrested her for allegedly transporting four individuals, including two children from Belize, to various locations in Texas and Florida.
Lt. Chris Olivarez, a spokesperson for Texas DPS, shared footage of the traffic stop on social media. The troopers, part of Governor Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, sought clarification from the Cadillac’s occupants due to suspicions of possible smuggling. Following their questioning, the officers confirmed that the passengers were undocumented immigrants who likely crossed the border without being caught by Border Patrol.
One of the passengers, a man from Honduras, confessed to paying $10,000 for his journey into the U.S., stating he aimed to reach a stash house in Florida.
A Belizean woman, traveling with her two children aged 6 and 8, was reported to be heading to a safe house in San Antonio.
The woman, named Georgina de Hoyos from San Antonio, was charged with four counts of alien smuggling.
“Our officers did an excellent job in spotting a smuggling ring and safely recovering two young children,” Olivarez noted.
Even with heightened enforcement at the border, DPS agents continue to catch smugglers bringing undocumented individuals deeper into Texas. This incident underscores that some people successfully evade initial detection by Border Patrol. The ongoing arrests reflect the national security concerns associated with unchecked entrants and emphasize the crucial role that Texas DPS and Operation Lone Star play in identifying smuggling activities and rescuing those being smuggled inland.
