Dozens arrested in organized crime ring involving human trafficking

Arrests made in Bexar, Atascosa, Wilson, Harris counties

ATASCOSA COUNTY, Texas – Law enforcement officials said 29 people, most of whom have already been arrested, have been indicted as part of a human smuggling operation.

The Department of Public Safety and the 81st District Attorney's Office said the indictments include 86 separate charges, including human trafficking, human smuggling, theft of motor vehicles and money laundering. Officials said 23 people have already been arrested.

District Attorney René Peña said in addition to the people already indicted, four other people were arrested during Thursday's raids and would go before a grand jury in the near future.

Click here to see a slideshow of those arrested.

Peña said those arrested include accused smugglers, bushwalkers, scouts, money launderers and people who ran stash houses.

"You don't just work at the workers' level," DPS Director Steve McCraw said. "You infiltrate them not just in terms of the mid-level management, but the hierarchy, as well. This is a textbook example of doing it."

The roughly two-year investigation spanned multiple counties, including Bexar, Harris, Wilson, Atascosa and some South Texas counties.

Warrants uncovered guns, cash, stolen vehicles and people.

"There were some undocumented individuals that were recovered and turned over to (Homeland Security Investigations)," DPS Commander Freeman Martin said.

Officials stressed that the lines between human smuggling and trafficking are blurry. Peña said the main goal of this type of operation is profit. He said criminals will exploit people if they are able to.

Peña said it was important for law enforcement to partner up to take down criminal enterprises like smuggling and trafficking.

"That is a high return for them with a relatively low risk of getting caught," Peña said.

It's unclear if the people arrested are from several groups or if they are part of a larger organization, though McCraw said nothing crosses the border without the cartels getting a piece.


About the Authors:

Garrett Brnger is a reporter with KSAT 12.