Six Guatemalan nationals have been apprehended in connection with the tragic 2021 truck crash in Mexico that resulted in the deaths of over 50 migrants.
The arrests occurred both in Guatemala and Texas, marking the third anniversary of the catastrophic event. The incident involved a semi-trailer truck crammed with at least 160 migrants, primarily from Guatemala, which crashed into a pedestrian bridge support in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas. This calamity highlighted the perils associated with human smuggling, an illegal venture driven by profit, often at the expense of human lives.
On Monday, authorities unsealed an indictment in Laredo, Texas, detailing the arrests. Among those detained were Tomas Quino Canil, Alberto Marcario Chitic, Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, and Josefa Quino Canil de Zavala, apprehended by Guatemalan officials. In Cleveland, Texas, Jorge Agapito Ventura was also arrested, with a sixth suspect’s name obscured in the indictment for undisclosed reasons. The defendants face serious charges, including conspiracy and acts resulting in jeopardy and death.
The indictment also revealed that the accused were part of a scheme to smuggle migrants from Guatemala through Mexico into the United States, receiving payment for their illegal services. Disturbingly, some operations involved unaccompanied minors, with smugglers providing them scripts to evade capture. The networks utilized various means of transportation, ranging from foot travel to microbuses and larger vehicles like cattle trucks and tractor trailers. Communication lines such as Facebook Messenger were employed to exchange identification documents, facilitating the unlawful entry into the U.S.
U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, commented on the tragedy, emphasizing that the events in Chiapas three years ago underscore the ruthless and dangerous nature of human smuggling networks. Guatemalan Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez stated that the defendants were linked to a criminal organization known as Los Quino. He also mentioned that the U.S. had requested the extradition of the four arrested individuals from Guatemala. Additionally, law enforcement conducted 15 search operations across Guatemala with assistance from both U.S. and Mexican authorities.
The arrests signify a crucial step in addressing the dangerous practice of human smuggling, which jeopardizes countless lives in pursuit of illicit profits. As authorities continue to tackle this issue, the tragic events in Chiapas serve as a stark reminder of the human cost associated with these criminal networks.
Source: Apnews
