United States - September 16, 2024

A routine traffic stop on US Highway 77 turned into a significant human smuggling bust when Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) Troopers discovered 16 undocumented immigrants hidden behind a false wall in a cargo trailer.

On Monday, September 16, a DPS Trooper initiated the stop of a Ford F-250 towing a cargo trailer near Kenedy County. The vehicle's driver, identified as Anthony Jhonson from Houston, consented to a search of the trailer. What followed was a discovery that highlighted the perilous journeys undertaken by migrants and the lengths to which smugglers will go.

Behind an expertly constructed false wall, troopers found 16 individuals packed into an unventilated compartment. The conditions were severe, with the lack of air ventilation posing a significant risk to the lives of those inside. The migrants, whose nationalities were not disclosed, were immediately tended to by authorities upon their discovery.

Anthony Jhonson faces grave charges, including 16 counts of smuggling of persons with the likelihood of serious bodily injury or death. These charges reflect the dangerous nature of human smuggling operations and the potential for tragic outcomes.

Following their rescue, all 16 migrants were handed over to the U.S. Border Patrol for processing, marking the end of a harrowing journey but the beginning of their legal proceedings within the U.S. immigration system.