Five Human Smuggling Attempts Foiled in 11 Hours
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
EDINBURG (News Release) – Rio Grande Valley Sector Border Patrol (RGV) agents disrupted five migrant smuggling attempts resulting in 49 arrests.
On Jan. 26, McAllen Border Patrol Station agents responded to a call from a concerned citizen regarding possible illegal migrants loading into a vehicle near Mission. Agents responded to the area and attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on a van matching the description. The van failed to yield and led agents on a pursuit. A CBP Air and Marine Operations helicopter was requested to assist. The pursuit eventually came to a end in Pharr, Texas where several subjects were observed exiting the vehicle. With the assistance of a CBP air asset, 15 subjects were apprehended. The migrants are citizens of Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador. The driver was not located.
Around the same time, RGV agents were pursuing a Ford Flex on U.S. Highway 281 near San Manuel, TX. The pursuit came to an end when the driver drove through a ranch fence. Several subjects were observed absconding into the nearby brush. As agents searched the area, the vehicle caught fire. The local fire department was requested and responded to extinguish the fire. One migrant was apprehended in the area, but the driver was not located.
Approximately 40 minutes later, RGV agents attempted to conduct a vehicle stop on a Chevrolet Equinox on U.S. Highway 77 near Norias, Texas. The vehicle failed to yield and led agents on a vehicle pursuit. The Equinox veered off the road through a property gate and came to a stop, where multiple people were observed fleeing. A search of the immediate area resulted in the apprehension of seven migrants from Guatemala. The driver was not located.
Early this morning, RGV agents had another pursuit along U.S. Highway 281 near San Manuel, Texas. A Ford F-150 failed to yield to Border Patrol marked units and sped away, the driver ultimately veered off the road and came to a stop. Several subjects absconded from the vehicle. A search of the area lead to the discovery of five migrants, all determined to being illegally present in the United States. The driver was not located.
Moments later, RGV agents observed several subjects loading into a vehicle near Escobares, Texas. Responding agents conducted a vehicle stop on a white Chevrolet Suburban. As the suburban came to a stop, the driver absconded into the nearby neighborhood. The stop resulted in the discovery of 21 migrants cramped inside the vehicle. Agents searched the immediate area; however, the driver could not be located.
