05/30/2026
Tractor-Trailer Stop Leads to Human Smuggling Arrest in South Texas
Newly released law enforcement footage shows a dramatic traffic stop on Interstate 35 in South Texas that ended with authorities discovering 20 migrants hidden inside the sleeper compartment of a tractor-trailer.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), a state trooper pulled over a white Volvo truck near mile marker 28 in Webb County as part of Operation Lone Star. As officers approached the vehicle, the driver suddenly exited the truck and attempted to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended by law enforcement.
A search of the truck revealed 20 migrants concealed in the small sleeping area behind the driver’s seat. Authorities said the group included four minors from Mexico and Guatemala. Officials noted that sleeper berths are designed for one or two occupants, making the conditions inside extremely cramped and potentially dangerous.
The driver, identified by DPS as 25-year-old Miguel Angel Velazquez Chavez, was arrested and charged with smuggling of persons and evading arrest. He was booked into the Webb County Jail while investigators continue to examine the case.
Following the discovery, all 20 migrants were turned over to U.S. Border Patrol for processing. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges law enforcement faces in combating human smuggling operations along major transportation corridors near the U.S.-Mexico border.