The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) on Tuesday arrested one individual on human smuggling charges after a Texas Highway Patrol Trooper conducted a traffic stop in Brooks County.
At approximately 6 p.m. Tuesday, a DPS trooper stopped a 2005 Chevrolet Equinox traveling northbound on U.S. Highway 281 north of FM 755, for a traffic violation. After receiving consent to search the vehicle, the trooper discovered two undocumented individuals hidden inside the vehicle, under bags of miscellaneous items in the cargo area of the vehicle. The driver claimed that she was being paid $1,000 per person to transport the men from Mission to Houston.
The driver, Jennifer Cabrera Pineda, 18, of Houston, was arrested and charged with smuggling of persons, a third-degree felony. She was transported to Brooks County Jail.
The two undocumented individuals were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol – Falfurrias Station.
(Press release from Department of Public Safety)