In a significant bust on Friday, November 28, a Texas man found himself in handcuffs after nearly two dozen illegal immigrants were discovered concealed within his truck. The incident unfolded in La Salle County, about 105 miles from San Antonio, when a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) trooper conducted a standard traffic stop.

The vehicle in question, a white Freightliner truck, was initially stopped after it was seen driving on the shoulder of a central highway, a routine infraction that led to a much more serious discovery. The stop was part of Operation Lone Star, a concerted effort by Texas authorities to combat illegal activities.

Once pulled over, the driver, identified as 24-year-old John David Amaya, was found to be operating without a valid commercial driver’s license, according to DPS officials. This revelation quickly escalated the situation, prompting further investigation.

Captured on the trooper’s body camera, Amaya appeared defensive, claiming he was employed by a private company. He resisted the trooper’s request to search the truck, questioning the necessity of such an action by asking, “Is that required?” and asserting, “There’s no reason you should be searching the vehicle.”

Despite Amaya’s attempts to deflect the search, the trooper’s diligence uncovered 23 illegal immigrants hidden inside the vehicle, leading to Amaya’s arrest on charges of human smuggling. The operation highlights the ongoing struggle against illegal immigration and the measures taken by authorities to uphold the law.

Amaya continued to push back against a potential search, adding, “There’s no reason you should be searching the vehicle.”  

The trooper then informed Amaya that he would be sending a police K-9 unit to search the vehicle, adding that he would have probable cause to search the truck if the dog alerted to any findings. Amaya replied by telling the officer he was on the phone with his lawyer.

An Operation Lone Star traffic stop uncovered 23 illegal immigrants hidden inside the sleeper compartment of a truck in La Salle, Texas, on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. (Texas DPS)

Shortly after, additional authorities arrived and began walking the K-9 around the truck, with authorities detaining Amaya after the dog had caught a scent.

Additional footage shows officers opening the sleeper area of the truck, ultimately uncovering 23 illegal immigrants hidden inside the vehicle. 

Amaya was arrested and charged with 23 counts of smuggling of persons, DPS said. 

John David Amaya was pulled over for a routine traffic stop while driving a truck tractor in La Salle, Texas, on Friday, Nov. 28, 2025. (Texas DPS)

Additionally, Border Patrol took custody of the 23 illegal immigrants, who hailed from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Mexico and Nicaragua.

Under legislation signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in 2023, anyone found guilty of smuggling individuals faces a mandatory 10-year minimum prison sentence, according to DPS.  

DPS and Border Patrol did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.