Guatemalan police have made seven arrests in connection to the smuggling of 53 migrants who died in a trailer in Texas in 2022. The arrests came after 13 raids in three different departments of Guatemala, and include the alleged ringleader, Rigoberto Román Mirnado Orozco, whose extradition has been requested by the United States. This collaborative effort between Guatemalan police and Homeland Security is aimed at dismantling human trafficking structures and addressing irregular migration. Six people were previously charged, including Homero Zamorano Jr. and Christian Martinez, who were arrested shortly after the victims were found, with Martinez later pleading guilty to smuggling-related charges.
The fatal smuggling attempt involved migrants being trapped in a trailer with a malfunctioning air-conditioning unit during a three-hour ride from Laredo to San Antonio. When the trailer was opened in San Antonio, 48 migrants were already dead, with another 16 taken to hospitals and five more dying. The victims came from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, paying up to $15,000 each to be smuggled across the U.S. border, with the fee covering up to three attempts. Authorities have alleged that the men worked with smuggling operations in Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico, sharing resources such as routes, guides, stash houses, trucks, and trailers.
The arrests occurred in various departments of Guatemala, with Orozco being apprehended in San Marcos on the border with Mexico. Other arrests were made in Huehuetenango and Jalapa, with the police identifying the gang as “Los Orozcos” due to several of the arrested individuals being family members with that surname. The investigation into one of the deadliest human smuggling attempts to the United States has been ongoing for years, leading to these latest arrests. Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez highlighted the collaboration between Guatemalan police and Homeland Security, along with other national agencies, in addressing human trafficking as a strategic objective of the government.
Homero Zamorano Jr., who authorities say drove the truck involved in the smuggling attempt, and Christian Martinez, both from Texas, were arrested early on in the investigation. Martinez later pleaded guilty to smuggling-related charges, while Zamorano pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. Further arrests in 2023 included four Mexican nationals who were allegedly involved in the smuggling operation. The men were aware of the dangerous conditions in the trailer but continued with the smuggling operation, resulting in the tragic deaths of the migrants. The government of Guatemala, under President Bernardo Arévalo, has prioritized tackling the phenomenon of irregular migration, with efforts focused on dismantling human trafficking structures and addressing the root causes of migration from the region.
