A suspected member of the infamous Tren de Aragua (TdA) gang was one of five individuals apprehended during a human smuggling operation in Texas, authorities announced on Wednesday.
Three suspects, charged with human smuggling, have been bypassing Border Patrol checkpoints and using recognized human smuggling corridors to transport up to 15 people weekly into the U.S., according to Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar. He mentioned that two other people present at the time of arrest faced accusations related to drug possession.
The individuals charged with human smuggling were identified as 24-year-old Jose Francisco Barriento Vega from Mexico, along with 49-year-old Mary Lou Tula and 44-year-old Alexis Segundo Olivo Fernandez, both from Venezuela.
Vega is in the U.S. without documentation, Salazar said, while Tula is believed to be a U.S. citizen.
Salazar said the sheriff’s Human Exploitation Unit has worked with Laredo Sector Border Patrol to investigate the human smuggling group since launching operations in April. The sheriff noted the group has associations with criminal organizations responsible for upwards of $1 million of seized cash.
Bryan Suarez, 19, was arrested during the bust for drug possession, the sheriff’s office said. (Bexar County Sheriff’s Office)
Those arrested were booked into Bexar County Jail.
Salazar said more arrests are possible as the investigation remains ongoing.
