Texas Department of Public Safety troopers are actively intercepting human and drug smuggling operations at the border as part of Governor Greg Abbott’s border security mission, Operation Lone Star.
The recent arrests of smugglers have involved individuals who are both U.S. citizens and noncitizens residing in the country without legal documentation.
In a recent incident, a group of DPS troopers took part in a high-speed chase of a suspected smuggler in Webb County, Texas. The driver raced down Interstate 35 and maneuvered through parking lots and residential areas in an attempt to escape arrest.
After successfully executing a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver, DPS stopped the driver. Upon stopping the vehicle, troopers discovered 10 Mexican nationals who were in the country illegally. These individuals were found crammed in the rear seat and trunk of the vehicle.
Two children, aged 8 and 9, were among those found. DPS troopers have charged the driver with multiple offenses, including smuggling of people with the potential to cause serious bodily harm or death, smuggling of minors, evading arrest with the potential to cause serious bodily harm or death, and reckless driving.
Border Patrol referred all ten Mexicans inside the vehicle.
A daring individual behind the wheel of a Dodge Charger took DPS Troopers on a thrilling chase along I-35 in Webb County on Wednesday. Jaime Gonzalez, a smuggler hailing from Laredo, skillfully evaded the Troopers by maneuvering recklessly through parking lots and neighborhoods.
Eventually, the Troopers were able to bring the vehicle to a safe halt using a PIT maneuver. Upon inspection, they discovered a shocking sight – 10 undocumented immigrants from Mexico crammed into the rear seat and trunk. Among them were two young children, aged 8 and 9 years old.
Gonzalez now faces a series of charges, including eight counts of smuggling persons with the potential for severe bodily harm or death, two counts of smuggling minors under the age of 18, evading arrest with the possibility of serious bodily harm or death, and reckless driving. The Troopers handed over all 10 undocumented immigrants to the Border Patrol for further action.
DPS troopers in Webb County found themselves involved in a high-speed chase, this time pursuing a 17-year-old individual suspected of human smuggling from Mexico. The teenager, along with five Mexican nationals that he was allegedly smuggling, had all entered the United States illegally.
Border Patrol successfully apprehended and referred all five individuals who illegally crossed the border from Mexico.
A teenager named Jesus Gonzalez, who is an illegal immigrant from Mexico, led DPS Troopers on a high-speed pursuit in Webb County. While driving a Buick Encore, Gonzalez allowed five other illegal immigrants to jump out of the vehicle as he evaded the authorities along train tracks. Eventually, he fled off-road and abandoned the car in the brush. After a foot chase, Troopers successfully arrested Gonzalez and charged him with evading arrest and smuggling of persons. Border Patrol also apprehended all five illegal immigrants from Mexico who were referred for further action.
In their efforts to intercept illegal substances, DPS troopers are actively confiscating drugs during OLS operations.
During a routine traffic stop in Webb County, DPS troopers made a significant seizure of methamphetamine worth $5.7 million.
Law enforcement officials apprehended and filed felony charges against the driver, who is a Mexican national, for owning a controlled substance.
A DPS Special Operations Group detained three Mexican nationals in Cameron County, the southernmost county in Texas, after they crossed the Rio Grande River and entered the nation illegally. They intended to smuggle more than 150 pounds of marijuana, which DPS seized.
Since the initiation of Operation Lone Star by Abbott, DPS and other OLS officers have successfully apprehended over 525,300 individuals who have illegally crossed the border and have made more than 48,300 arrests for criminal activities. These arrests have resulted in over 41,700 felony charges being reported.
Law enforcement officers in Texas have confiscated over 552 million lethal doses of fentanyl, a quantity sufficient to eliminate the populations of both the United States and Mexico when combined.
Governor Abbott emphasizes the importance of Operation Lone Star in addressing the critical vulnerabilities caused by the federal government’s failure to secure the border. He highlights that every person apprehended or arrested, as well as every amount of drugs seized, would have otherwise entered communities in Texas and across the nation due to the presence of open border policies.
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