MCALLEN, Texas - A recent Border Patrol stop found a hidden compartment in a produce trailer full of undocumented immigrants, US Customs and Border Protection announced Wednesday.
Two men were taken into custody after the trailer was stopped in Zapata County, Texas. One of the alleged smugglers is also an undocumented immigrant, the CBP release says.
55 immigrants in produce trailer
What we know:
The incident happened on Sept. 19 near San Ygnacio. The driver, Brandon Lajohn Hargrove, 43, of Houston, is said to have claimed he was hauling produce.
Luis Castellanos-Hercules, 21, an undocumented Honduran national, was found during the initial search of the trailer.
$1.6M in drugs found in shipment of limes crossing Texas border
Over 125 pounds of suspected cocaine were found in the commercial shipment of limes, officials say.
A further search found 55 more immigrants, three who were under the age of 17, from Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador, China, India, Colombia, and Ecuador.
The immigrants are believed to have been put in physical danger by means of their smuggling.
‘Total disregard for their safety’
What they're saying:
"This case highlights the ruthless tactics smugglers use—treating human beings as cargo, with total disregard for their safety," stated CBP Senior Advisor Ronald D. Vitiello. "Our agents’ vigilance saved 55 people, including alleged minors, from a potentially deadly situation. CBP will continue to dismantle smuggling networks and bring perpetrators to justice. Smugglers need to know that our border is closed, and we will stop you."
What's next:
If convicted, Hargrove and Castellanos-Hercules face up to 10 years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000. Several of the immigrants are also facing charges of illegal entry and reentry.
The Source: Information in this article comes from US Customs and Border Protection.