A woman was arrested after being caught smuggling dozens of illegal immigrants into the United States. The discovery was made during a traffic stop in Texas. Silvia Patricia Santamaria’s vehicle was pulled over at a truck stop along Interstate 37.
The 43-year-old woman from Houston was behind the wheel of a white 2005 International box truck on Wednesday morning. Reports say the vehicle was pulled over after a minor crash was reported by a passerby.
The accident, involving Santamaria’s truck, quickly led to a criminal investigation after troopers arrived on the scene. Santamaria was apparently asked to exit the vehicle and was subsequently questioned. She told an officer at the scene that she was transporting mattresses from Alton back to Houston.
However, inconsistencies in her account prompted authorities to take a closer look, leading them to find more than mattresses in her cargo. 12 men, 12 women, and an 11-year-old child were discovered by the George West Police and the Texas Department of Public Safety during a joint search operation on the vehicle. The 25 illegal immigrants were hidden behind stacks of mattresses. The immigrants were inside a narrow crawl space.
None of the passengers had access to fresh air or ventilation, raising serious concerns about their safety. According to reports, the illegal immigrants were from several countries, including Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, India, Cuba, Venezuela, and the Dominican Republic.
After the discovery, Santamaria was immediately arrested. She is being held at the Live Oak County Jail. She was formally charged with 25 counts of human smuggling, one for each person found inside the truck.
The individuals were later evaluated by medical personnel and handed over to U.S. Border Patrol for processing. Authorities have not confirmed whether Santamaria acted alone or if the operation is connected to a larger smuggling network.
A body-worn camera captured the interaction between an officer and Santamaria when she was stopped. She told the officer that a motorist told her she had reversed and collided with him while driving. The footage later shows the truck tightly packed with mattresses and Santamaria being arrested.
