SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The Bexar County Sheriff’s Department has conducted two search warrant operations in San Antonio, resulting in the arrest of five individuals as part of an ongoing investigation into human smuggling. Sheriff Javier Salazar mentioned that one of the suspects is suspected to have ties to the notorious Tren de Aragua gang from Venezuela.
Salazar provided details post-execution of the warrant on Wednesday, noting the cooperative effort between his department’s organized crime unit and the Laredo Sector Intelligence branch of the Border Patrol. This investigation into a human smuggling ring operating from Mexico began in 2023 and targets smugglers who circumvent border patrol highway checkpoints to bring individuals into the U.S.
Search warrants were executed in the 3700 block of West Avenue and the 200 block of Oriole Lane, also in Alamo City. At the first location, 24-year-old Jose Francisco Barientos Vega, who is in the U.S. illegally from Mexico, was apprehended by the gang squad of the Bexar County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Salazar stated Barientos Vega is facing charges related to people smuggling and organized criminal activity.
Additionally, during a traffic stop linked to the West Avenue warrant, two other suspects were taken into custody. Mary Lou Zura, 49, and Alexis Segundo Olivo Fernandez, 44, were arrested at this stop. Zura is reportedly a U.S. citizen allegedly operating a stash house and is believed to be involved in organized crime and smuggling.
Salazar indicated that investigators suspect Olivo Fernandez, also in the country illegally, is associated with the violent Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang. He faces charges related to operating a hidden residence, organized crime, and smuggling. Although the gang affiliation does not change the charges at the county level, it could become significant if the case escalates to federal court.
Two additional suspects, Brandon Germany, 25, and Brian Jourdan Arez, 19, were also arrested during the operation. Both are U.S. citizens found at one of the search locations and are being charged with drug possession. However, at the time of their arrest, their connection to human smuggling was unclear.
Salazar later mentioned a sixth suspect was taken into custody, also believed to be linked to the Tren de Aragua gang. While not directly involved in the smuggling operation, this individual’s identity was not disclosed, and it was noted that Venezuelan nationals linked to the gang would be handed over to Border Patrol for deportation.
According to Salazar, the dismantled smuggling operation regularly brought in five to 15 undocumented individuals into the U.S. each week, highlighting the financial incentives that drive such human trafficking activities.
Currently, the five arrested suspects are being held at the Bexar County Jail, while the sixth individual has been referred to Border Patrol. The investigation is ongoing.
