Fox News Digital reports that two vehicles transporting 26 Chinese migrants were halted by Florida police on Tuesday morning, and two suspected smugglers were taken into custody.
The event happened more than a week after a group of more than 30 migrants in vans were arrested in Coral Gables, a city close to Miami.
Detective Khaled Tahah of the Coral Gables Police Department said that an informed citizen called the police at 8 a.m. today regarding possible Chinese migrants being carried in passenger vans.
Both vans were located when our troops arrived on the site. 26 individuals who appear to be Chinese migrants were found during traffic stops on each van.
According to Taha, there is a mix of men and women living in the vans. Both of the accused smugglers are men.
He said that two vans were stopped in Kendall: one at the 8800 block of Old Cutler Road and the other at 11600 Old Cutler Road.
While police were conducting the stop, a number of people were observed sitting on the side of the road, according to WSVN. The source said they were later loaded onto county trolleys and sent to an undisclosed destination.
According to Tahah, the inquiry is currently being led by the Customs and Border Patrol and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which responded to the scene.
Both agencies were contacted by Fox News Digital for additional information, but they did not respond right away.
After an alleged kidnapping, a group of over 30 migrants—mostly Chinese citizens—were found inside a Toyota and U-Haul truck in Coral Gables more than a week ago.
According to Coral Gables Police Chief Edward James Hudak Jr., the incident happened on January 17 at approximately 9:35 a.m. when a homeowners association security guard reported witnessing an abduction.
After stopping the cars, officers removed the reportedly kidnapped woman from the Toyota. According to police, officers then started looking into the U-Haul truck, which was carrying 16 Chinese women, 15 Chinese men, a male from Cuba, and a female from Ecuador.
A Brazilian woman, an Ecuadorian guy, and a Cuban man were among the migrants in the Toyota, according to the authorities.
Investigators were trying to determine whether the woman who may have been kidnapped was trying to escape her suspected smugglers.
The migrants, who were reportedly exhausted but in good health, received medical attention from the Coral Gables Fire Department.
Four more migrants were arrested by police in relation to the event, and the migrants were turned over to the US Border Patrol.
Since 2021, the number of Chinese nationals encountered at the border has significantly grown. As of April 2024, there were over 24,200 encounters in the fiscal year 2024, compared to 1,970 in FY 2022 and over 24,000 in FY 2023.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.