60 Illegal Aliens Apprehended in Two Tractor Trailer Smuggling Attempts in Rio Grande Valley

EDINBURG, Texas - On Tuesday, Rio Grande Valley (RGV) Sector Border Patrol agents discovered the illegal aliens in two tractor trailer human smuggling events.

Yesterday morning, Corpus Christi (CCT) Border Patrol Station agents received a call from a Wharton County Sheriff's Deputy regarding a jack-knifed tractor trailer on US 59 and CR 216 east of Victoria, Texas. The deputy was advised by a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Trooper that there were eight suspected illegal aliens in the cargo area of the tractor trailer. Two of the illegal aliens were injured during the crash and were taken immediately to a local hospital by emergency medical personnel. A CCT agent interviewed the subjects and determined that they were in the country illegally and were transferred to the Corpus Christi Border Patrol Station.

Yesterday evening, Kingsville Border (KIN) Patrol Station agents working at the Javier Vega Jr. Border Patrol Checkpoint conducted an immigration inspection on the driver of a tractor trailer. The primary agent was questioning the driver as to his citizenship when he was advised by the Border Patrol K9 handler that the service K9 was alerting to trailer portion of the tractor trailer and requested it be sent to the secondary inspection area. Following an additional K9 alert in secondary, agents searched the belly dump portion of the trailer and discovered 52 illegal aliens hiding inside. The driver was placed under arrest and the 52 illegal aliens were taken into custody. All of the subjects were medically screened, and no one required further medical attention.

Border Patrol is processing the subjects accordingly.

Even with the spread of the COVID-19 virus, human smugglers continue to try these brazen attempts with zero regard for the lives they endanger nor to the health of the citizens of our great nation. The U.S. Border Patrol agents of the Rio Grande Valley Sector will continue to safeguard the nation and community against these criminal elements.

Please visit www.cbp.gov to view additional news releases and other information pertaining to Customs and Border Protection. Follow us on Twitter @CBPRGV, @USBPChiefRGV and @USBPDepChiefRGV.

~CBP~