U.S. Border Patrol agents, working with the Hidalgo County Sheriff’s Office, disrupted a human smuggling operation on Dec. 19 after locating a stash house in Mission, authorities said.
According to Border Patrol, agents found 24 migrants inside the residence who were allegedly being staged for further transport. Officials said the individuals originated from multiple countries, including China, Cuba, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Mexico.
Border Patrol described the case as evidence of what it called the transnational nature of human smuggling networks, noting that people from several regions were involved in the same operation.
Authorities said the suspected smuggler faces prosecution on alien smuggling charges, while the migrants were taken into federal custody for immigration processing.
No additional details about the investigation or potential additional suspects were released.
Texas Reporter 