Guatemalan police have made seven arrests in connection with the smuggling of 53 migrants who died of asphyxiation in a tractor trailer in Texas in 2022. The arrests were the result of a collaborative effort between Guatemalan police, Homeland Security, and other national agencies. Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez stated that the arrests were part of the government’s efforts to dismantle human trafficking structures and combat irregular migration. The alleged ringleader of the smuggling gang, Rigoberto Román Miranda Orozco, has had his extradition requested by the United States.
Six people were previously charged in connection with the smuggling case, including Homero Zamorano Jr. and Christian Martinez, who authorities say drove the truck. Martinez pleaded guilty to smuggling-related charges, while Zamorano pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. Four Mexican nationals were also arrested in 2023 in connection with the case. The men involved in the smuggling operation were aware that the trailer’s air-conditioning unit was malfunctioning, leading to the tragic deaths of 48 migrants before the trailer was opened in San Antonio. Another 16 migrants were taken to hospitals, where five more died.
Authorities have alleged that the men involved in the smuggling operation collaborated with human trafficking networks in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico. They shared routes, guides, stash houses, trucks, and trailers, some of which were stored at a private parking lot in San Antonio. Migrants paid up to $15,000 each to be taken across the U.S. border, with the fee covering up to three attempts to enter the country. The alleged ringleader, Orozco, was arrested in the Guatemalan department of San Marcos, while other arrests took place in the departments of Huehuetenango and Jalapa. The police identified the gang as “Los Orozcos” due to several family members being part of the group.
The organization illegally housed and transported hundreds of migrants of different nationalities to the United States, collecting millions of quetzales through several years of operation. The arrests in Guatemala are part of ongoing efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks and curb irregular migration. The arrests were made possible after 13 raids in three different departments in Guatemala, leading to the seizure of vehicles and cash and the rescue of other migrants during the operations. The tragic deaths of 53 migrants in 2022 highlighted the dangers and risks faced by individuals attempting to migrate irregularly. The collaboration between Guatemalan authorities, Homeland Security, and other agencies underscores the importance of international cooperation in addressing the issue of human trafficking.
