Texas Department of Public Safety officers arrested two teenage human smugglers transporting three illegal aliens, one of whom was wanted for murder.
According to a press release Tuesday, the trio was caught, along with the two smugglers, after a high-speed chase in Maverick County.
“Just after 8:00 A.M. on May 4, DPS Troopers were led on a high-speed pursuit by the driver of a GMC Sierra who failed to stop for a traffic violation on US 277,” the release states.
Following a crash into a ranch fence, the entire group fled from the vehicle and attempted to evade law enforcement on foot. With aerial assistance, law enforcement officers eventually rounded up all five individuals.
“Additionally, Troopers located a handgun inside the vehicle and learned that the vehicle was reported stolen out of Austin,” the department added.
The three illegal aliens were transferred to U.S. Border Patrol. One of the illegal aliens was Gerardo Jose Ojeda-Montiel, who is 33 years old and originated from Venezuela. He is wanted for murder in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
The two smugglers, driver Daniele Lopez-Vasquez and passenger Brian Guzman are both 19 years old and were charged with evading arrest, smuggling of persons, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
They were both transported to the Val Verde Temporary Processing Center.
This follows a string of criminal activity by illegal aliens around Maverick County and comes as illegal border crossings steadily rise in that area. Senate Bill 4, a Texas law that criminalizes illegal entry into the state from Mexico, is still on hold as it awaits further review by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
“Texas continues to utilize every tool and strategy to respond to Pres. Biden’s reckless border crisis,” Gov. Greg Abbott posted on X on May 6.
“Every day, Texas National Guard soldiers and DPS troopers: Combat drug and human smuggling; Deter and repel illegal immigrants; Install and reinforce border barriers.”
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