CBP - U.S. Customs and Border Protection

06/09/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 06/09/2021 15:39

Combined Law Enforcement Efforts Lead Laredo Sector Border Patrol to Five Stash Houses

LAREDO, Texas - Over the course of two days, Laredo Sector Border Patrol agents, along with Laredo Police Department (LPD), and other federal law enforcement partners, located five stash houses and apprehended over 200 undocumented individuals throughout Laredo.

The first incident occurred during the mid-afternoon of June 7, when agents from Laredo South Station received information from a concerned citizen about a possible stash house on Mims Avenue. Agents, along with LPD, conducted a welfare check at the residence and discovered 29 undocumented individuals from the countries of Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador. The temperature inside the residence was close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Later that day, Laredo South Station and LPD investigated a report of a suspected stash house located on Canelo Drive. Law enforcement officers discovered 20 individuals that were in the U.S. illegally and from the country of Mexico.

The third stash house was located later that evening when Laredo South Station agents received a request from LPD of a suspected stash house on San Francisco Avenue. Once agents arrived on scene, 82 undocumented individuals from the countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua were apprehended.

Agents, along with LPD, and federal law enforcement partners discovered a fourth stash house on Invierno Lane on June 8th. A search of the residence resulted in the apprehension of 55 undocumented individuals from the countries of Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Nicaragua.

The final stash house was found by agents from the Laredo North Station and LPD on San Agustin Avenue. Law enforcement officers apprehended 30 undocumented individuals. The individuals were from the countries of Mexico and Guatemala and were in the U.S. illegally.

The individuals from the stash houses were not wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when encountered. They were provided PPE and were medically screened and processed accordingly.

'Illegal stash houses remain in high use throughout our community, which continues to be highlighted by our City partners. These houses often have no electricity, no running water or any type of air conditioning, and the people being held inside are not free to leave. Summer heat makes these situations extremely dangerous,' said Deputy Chief Patrol Agent Carl E. Landrum.

Stash houses continue to be a threat to national security and to the citizens of our nation, not only because of their use by criminal organizations, but also to the people they exploit by concealing them in dilapidated close quarters. Help us and our law enforcement partners take a stand against these criminal organizations and their dangerous acts by reporting suspicious activity in our neighborhoods.

Although the volume of people arrested in the stash houses is high, stash house apprehensions remain only a fraction of the total apprehensions made in Laredo Sector. The majority of apprehensions made by Laredo Sector agents are while performing line watch operations along the border.

To report suspicious activity such as human and/or drug smuggling, download the 'USBP Laredo Sector' App or contact the Laredo Sector Border Patrol toll free at 1-800-343-1994. If you see something, say something.

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-CBP-