A truck driver was arrested after 18 immigrants were found underneath a tarp in the trailer earlier this week.
Truck driver Osvaldo Garza Saavedra was stopped for a traffic violation on U.S. 77 in Kenedy County, Texas. Saavedra was found to not have a driver’s license or correct documentation for the truck.
When asked if anyone was inside of the truck or trailer, Saavedra answered no and gave permission for the officer to search the vehicle. The officer looked beneath a blue tarp covering the top of the trailer and found the 18 immigrants inside, reported Fox News.
The nine men, eight women, and one juvenile were handed over to the US Border Patrol. Saavedra was charged with human smuggling and smuggling of minors. He was taken to the Kleberg County jail.
“We are committed to enforcing compliance with safety standards and one of our department’s primary functions is to ensure Texas roadways are safe for all Texans and visitors to our great state,” DPS Director Steven McCraw said. “For security reasons the department does not discuss operational specifics, but we hope that frequent enhanced commercial vehicle safety inspections will help deter cartel smuggling activity along our southern border while increasing the safety of our roadways,” he added.
