Global Courant
Federal authorities have arrested six people for their alleged role in a people-smuggling ring that brought migrants from Guatemala to the United States, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico said.
Alexander MM Uballez, U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico, and Francisco B. Burrola, Special Agent in Charge of Homeland Security Investigations in El Paso, Texas, said Thursday the arrests followed the unsealing of an indictment by the federal grand jury on 24 May.
“Today’s human trafficking organizations prey on the hopes of Latin American migrants and target those most vulnerable to exploitation,” Uballez said. “To combat human trafficking, we will dismantle networks, arrest leaders and seize bank accounts.”
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Six individuals have been detained by federal authorities for alleged involvement in a people-smuggling operation responsible for transporting migrants from Guatemala to the US.
Global Courant
Authorities said the six were members of the Lopez Crime Family, which allegedly runs smuggling operations in Guatemala, Mexico and the US using a range of coordinated transports, warehouses and targeted electronic money transfers. Authorities said they are all Guatemalans and members of the family or related.
The arrests were made in Arizona and California in an operation involving law enforcement agencies in three states.
Homeland Security Investigations in New Mexico led the investigation and the prosecution is being handled by Assistant Attorney Matthew Ramirez for the District of New Mexico.
If convicted, they each face up to ten years in prison.
