by Catherine Smith
Thirty-six migrants were found trapped in a hidden compartment inside a dump truck in Texas near the Mexican border last week.
#USBP Laredo Sector responded to the scene of @mylaredopd case where people were hidden inside a dump trailer loaded with dirt with no means of escape. LPD requested assistance from USBP, @LaredoFireDept in the rescue of the individuals. #BorderSecurity pic.twitter.com/1Sqc1SEZeB
— CBP South Texas (@CBPSouthTexas) January 31, 2020
Officers in Laredo had dispatched a wrecker to tow away the disabled dump truck on the morning of Thursday, January 30, police said. Later that morning, they received an anonymous call reporting that people were concealed in a compartment inside the vehicle.
When authorities arrived, they heard banging coming from inside the truck, Laredo Police spokesman Officer Emanuel Diaz told CNN. The people inside appeared to be trapped, he said.
The migrants were found in a nook concealed by plywood and covered with a mixture of sand, gravel and dirt.
Customs and Border Protection South Texas, who were dispatched to the scene, shared photos of the truck and the migrants on Twitter, stating that the migrants inside had “no means of escape.”
Make no mistake – the criminal organizations and cartels have no concern for the wellbeing of the people they smuggle across the border. Thanks to @mylaredopd, @LaredoFireDept and #USBP Laredo Sector for their lifesaving actions https://t.co/lY3V075lTJ
— CBP Mark Morgan (@CBPMarkMorgan) February 1, 2020
“Make no mistake — the criminal organizations and cartels have no concern for the wellbeing of the people they smuggle across the border,” acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan said on Twitter.
The migrants are in the custody of Homeland Security Investigations. The agency is conducting a human-smuggling investigation, police said.
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Catherine Smith is a newcomer to Washington D.C. She met, and married an American journalist and moved to D.C from the U.K. She graduated with a B.A in Graphic, Media and Communications and worked in design and retail in the U.K.
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