Authorities arrest suspected human smugglers on third anniversary of tragic event
WASHINGTON — An investigation conducted by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents in Washington, D.C., Houston, Mexico City, and Guatemala resulted in the arrests of five alleged human smugglers Dec. 9, in both El Boquerón, Guatemala and Houston, Texas.
All five Guatemalan nationals are linked to a Dec. 9, 2021, mass casualty event in Chiapas, Mexico, where a semi-trailer truck containing at least 160 migrants crashed, resulting in the deaths of more than 50 people and injuring more than 100 more. The apprehensions were the result of extensive coordination among law enforcement authorities in the United States, Guatemala and Mexico and mark the third anniversary of the tragic event.
“Today, the alleged perpetrators of an abhorrent crime — one that resulted in the senseless deaths of more than 50 migrants and the injury of more than 100 others — are being held accountable, thanks to the investigative work of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [HSI] agents and our federal and international partners,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The tragedy that occurred three years ago today in Chiapas is further proof that human smugglers are ruthless, callous, and dangerous — intending migrants should not believe their lies. DHS will continue to disrupt and dismantle illegal human smuggling operations and help bring those who perpetrate such horror to justice.”
HSI special agents and Guatemalan authorities acted on provisional arrest warrants for Tomas Quino Canil, 36; Alberto Marcario Chitic, 31; Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, 24; and Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala, 42. A fifth Guatemalan national, Jorge Agapito Ventura, was arrested at his residence in Cleveland, Texas. All five Guatemalan nationals have been indicted in the Southern District of Texas in connection with the HSI investigation.
“HSI special agents, along with our law enforcement partners from Joint Task Force Alpha, worked tirelessly to investigate, locate, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous act,” said HSI Executive Associate Director Katrina W. Berger. “Now, exactly three years later, I proudly stand with our colleagues from the Justice Department to announce that we have made these apprehensions. HSI remains committed to dismantling human smuggling networks that exploit and mislead migrants, often subjecting them to dangerous and abusive conditions. These illicit organizations profit by preying on vulnerable populations, and HSI works assiduously to disrupt their operations. I want to express my sincere appreciation to all of our law enforcement partners in the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico for their invaluable work to bring this investigation to fruition.”
According to the investigation, from October 2021 to February 2023, the defendants conspired with other smugglers to facilitate the travel of migrants from Guatemala though Mexico with the intended destination of the United States. The defendants allegedly recruited Guatemalan migrants, collected payment, and arranged for travel to the United States.
“The Justice Department is holding accountable the individuals who we allege preyed on vulnerable migrants and are responsible for this heinous crime that resulted in the deaths over 50 people and injured over 100 more. Human smugglers should heed these charges and arrests as a warning: you will be held accountable for your deadly crimes,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland. “Since we launched JTFA more than three years ago, we have secured more than 330 domestic and international arrests and more than 275 convictions on smuggling offenses, as well as significant jail sentences and substantial forfeitures. We will continue to work across agencies and across borders to stop the scourge of human smuggling.”
The investigation further alleges that in some instances involving the smuggling of unaccompanied minors, the defendants provided scripts and instructions to their minor victims on what to say if apprehended. Some of the migrants recruited by the alleged smugglers died or suffered serious bodily injury as result of the Dec. 9, 2021, crash.
HSI’s Washington, D.C., investigated the case in partnership with HSI Houston, the HSI Guatemala City Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU) and the HSI Mexico City TCIU. Valuable assistance was provided by HSI’s Human Smuggling Unit; the Customs and Border Protection’s National Targeting Center; Operation Sentinel; U.S. Border Patrol; Liberty County Constable, Precinct 6; U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Texas, Beaumont Division; and Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs (OIA) and Office of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and Training (OPDAT). The Justice Department’s Criminal Division’s Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section (HRSP) and the Southern District of Texas are prosecuting the case.
“Years of diligent work by HSI Special Agents stationed across the United States, Guatemala and Mexico culminated in the arrest of these Guatemalan nationals.” Berger said. “These subjects were allegedly responsible for a human smuggling operation that resulted in a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of more than 50 people and injuries to more than 100 others. Immediately after this incident, HSI Special Agents, along with our law enforcement partners from JTFA, worked tirelessly to investigate, locate, and apprehend those responsible for this heinous act.”
HSI would like to express our sincere appreciation to all of our law enforcement partners in the United States, Guatemala, and Mexico, specifically to the members of Joint Task Force Alpha (JTFA), the Guatemala Public Ministry’s Human Smuggling Unit, Guatemalan National Police, the Government of Mexico’s Fiscalia General de la Republica (FGR), Agencia de Investigacion Criminal (AIC); INTERPOL Mexico; Fiscalia Especial de Control Regional (FECOR); and Unidad Especializada en Investigaciones de Trafico de Menores, Personas e Organos (UEITMPO). Their invaluable work helped bring this investigation to fruition.
Members of the public with information about criminal activity in your community are encouraged to contact the HSI Tip Line at 877-4-HSI-TIP.
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