More than a dozen members of a “prolific alien smuggling organization” were charged for allegedly facilitating the illegal entry of people from Central and South America across the southern border, according to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ).
The indictment was issued by a grand jury in Las Cruces, New Mexico, against 14 individuals, eight of whom were arrested on Feb. 20 and 21, the agency said in a Feb. 24 statement.
In addition to smuggling illegal immigrants, the defendants also were reportedly responsible for transporting them within the country and hiding them at “stash houses” during the journey.
“During some of the smuggling events, the defendants allegedly evaded law enforcement by traveling at high rates of speed on the road and instructing aliens how to flee U.S. Border Patrol and evade checkpoints,” the DOJ said….