Texas Department of Public Safety officers arrested an 18-wheeler driver this week after he was allegedly caught smuggling 18 illegal immigrants into the US.
The driver of the tractor-trailer, Osvaldo Garza Saavedra, was pulled over for a traffic violation on US 77 in Kenedy County, Texas.
Troops from the Texas Department of Public Safety discovered 18 illegal immigrants inside the bed of an 18-wheeler.
(Texas Department of Public Safety)
An investigation by a Texas DPS officer discovered that Garza Saavedra did not have a driver’s license or proper documentation to operate a commercial vehicle.
TEXAS DPS SAYS ‘SUSPECTED HUMAN SMUGGLING EVENT’ LEADS TO HIGH-SPEED CHASE, ‘DANGEROUS’ SUSPECT ON RACE
When asked if anyone was inside the truck or trailer, Texas DPS officials responded that Garza Saavedra said no.
Osvaldo Garza Saavedra was arrested for human smuggling and child smuggling into the United States, according to officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
(Texas Department of Public Safety)
Garza Saavedra gave the patrolman consent to search the truck, authorities said, and the patrolman noticed a blue tarp covering the trailer.
When the policeman looked under the tarp, there were 18 illegal immigrants inside: nine adult males, eight adult females, and one minor.
The bed of an 18-wheeler tractor trailer contained 18 illegal immigrants, according to officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
(Texas Department of Public Safety)
Garza Saavedra was arrested and charged with human trafficking and child trafficking. He was transported to the Kleberg County Jail and the 18 illegal immigrants were turned over to the US Border Patrol.
“We are committed to enforcing safety regulations and one of our department’s primary roles is to ensure Texas highways are safe for all Texans and visitors to our great state,” said DPS Director Steven McCraw. “The cartels don’t care about the condition of the vehicles they send to Texas any more than they care about the human lives that are stuffed into the trailers or lost to a fentanyl overdose.
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“For security reasons, the department does not discuss operational details, but we hope that frequent enhanced safety inspections of commercial vehicles will help deter cartel smuggling activity along our southern border while increasing the safety of our highways.” he added.
