23 arrested in human smuggling ring with 200 suspected victims
Nearly two dozen arrests have been made in several Texas counties connected to a major human smuggling operation.
The smuggling organization's roots go as far as the border, Atascosa County officials said in a press conference Friday morning, reaching all the way into San Antonio and Houston.
The 23 arrests made were part of a two-year long investigation by numerous organizations, including the Atascosa County authorities, DPS and other surrounding counties.
The arrested individuals, including the organization's ringleader, are now facing more than 80 separate charges, which include engaging in organized criminal activity, human smuggling, trafficking, sexual assault, theft and money laundering.
Authorities did not have an exact number but they said there could be more than 200 victims involved.
Officials said the investigation is putting a huge dent in the human smuggling and extortion operations in this region.
"Clearly it is an impact on this community," said Steve McCraw, Executive Director of DPS. "Clearly it is an impact on Houston and San Antonio where the smuggling and the trafficking was occurring, so it's one piece of many, many organized crime entities operating out there. But this clearly was a successful investigation."
This is an ongoing investigation. The district attorney said more arrests will be made in the coming days.
This crap is scary.
