Smuggling Hideouts Discovered

Smuggling Hideouts Discovered
Tips from residents in western Nueces County led officers to sites
KIIITV News


June 12, 2008

There's been an increase in the rash of so-called "bailouts" in recent months.

This as smugglers of human cargo risk lives to make money.

Evidence of a major smuggling operation has been discovered in western Nueces county. There are two such drop off points. One just west of Robstown, another near the Nueces-Jim Wells county line.

And the discovery was made by some sharp eyed deputies who were following up on tips from area residents.

We're west of Robstown maybe about a mile and a half or so" says Nueces county sheriff's Sgt Louis Forte. He and his partner, deputy Steve Walker patrol this area everyday and they talk to residents everyday.

Tips from residents point to illegal immigrants hitching rides aboard passing trains, jumping off at and seeking cover and down time till someone, perhaps another smuggler, picks them up to continue on their trek north.

We made our way through thick brush a city block wide area strewn with evidence that people come here.

Mattresses, a doll, open cans of food and hundreds upon hundreds of empty plastic water bottles.

Abandoned train cars reveal even more evidence. A makeshift refuge.

A few miles up the road near the county line, another encampment. Forte says, "we've apprehended two out of here and basically those poor guys were lost they had no idea, they were totally dehydrated, they had no idea where they were at."

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