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Venezuelan nationals arrested in human smuggling case after traffic stop on I-35 in Central Texas

  //automotive-transportation.news-articles.net/co .. after-traffic-stop-on-i-35-in-central-texas.html
  Published in Automotive and Transportation on Monday, October 27th 2025 at 17:26 GMT by KWTX
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The traffic stop and arrest

According to a DPW press release dated October 26 2025, troopers were dispatched to a routine traffic stop after a vehicle on I‑35 ran a red light. When the patrol team approached the Ford F‑150, they noted the driver's suspicious behavior and decided to conduct a more thorough inspection. Inside the truck, troopers discovered two sets of hidden compartments in the cargo area. The first contained three adult passports that bore the same stamped visa stamps and personal information, all belonging to Venezuelan nationals. The second compartment held several smaller bags filled with cash in denominations of US dollars, suggesting that the money had been raised through illicit means.

The suspects, identified in the DPW statement as Eduardo López Gómez, María Pérez Hernández, Carlos Ramírez Sánchez, and Lidia Morales Rivas, were taken into custody at the scene and transported to the Dallas County Detention Center. They were charged with felony human smuggling under Texas Penal Code § 48.01, illegal entry of foreign nationals, and possession of false identification documents. All four defendants have been booked and are awaiting arraignment in the Texas District Court for Dallas County. The charges carry potential sentences ranging from five to fifteen years in state prison, depending on the outcome of the proceedings.

Background on Venezuelan migration and smuggling in Texas

The arrest comes amid a broader crackdown on human smuggling networks that have increasingly exploited the I‑35 corridor to transport migrants from Latin America toward the U.S. border. Texas officials have reported that the number of Venezuelan migrants in the state has risen sharply since the 2019–2020 wave of political and economic crisis in Venezuela. Many of these individuals travel through the Rio Grande Valley, Texas’s southernmost counties, before attempting to cross the border into the United States. The DPW has identified the suspects as part of a ring that has been orchestrated from locations in southern Texas, specifically in and around the towns of San Antonio and Harlingen, to facilitate the movement of migrants into the U.S.

In a statement, DPW spokesperson Javier Moreno said, “The operation was designed to exploit the vulnerabilities of undocumented migrants and to profit from their desperation. By using concealed compartments in commercial vehicles, the suspects could transport multiple individuals at once, thereby maximizing profits for the smuggling ring.”

The DPW has also indicated that the suspects had previously been involved in smaller smuggling operations along I‑35, with the current arrest marking the largest operation they have intercepted to date.

Federal involvement

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has been involved in the investigation. According to a CBP spokesperson, the agency is working closely with Texas state law enforcement to track the route the smugglers use to bring migrants into the United States. CBP officials confirmed that the suspects had attempted to use fraudulent documentation to facilitate the entry of migrants across the U.S.–Mexico border.

Furthermore, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a notice indicating that it will be pursuing additional charges related to immigration fraud. The ICE notice states that the suspects are suspected of employing false passports and other deceptive tactics to move migrants across the border undetected.

Implications for border security and smuggling operations

The DPW has stated that this arrest signals a renewed effort to disrupt the smuggling network and that it will not hesitate to prosecute individuals involved in human smuggling. The agency has emphasized that the federal and state levels are coordinating their efforts to dismantle these operations, citing a 2024 report by the Department of Justice that estimated that 40% of human smuggling cases in the U.S. involved Latin American nationals.

The arrest of the four Venezuelan nationals also reflects the continued presence of international criminal networks in Texas. According to a recent briefing from the Department of Justice, the Texas Bureau of Investigation had been monitoring a smuggling ring that reportedly used the I‑35 corridor to move migrants and illicit drugs. The DPW statement notes that the suspects were part of this ring and that the operation extended beyond just human trafficking, possibly involving drug smuggling.

Public response and community impact

Local community leaders in Baxter and surrounding areas have expressed concern about the potential for increased criminal activity in the region. A community forum held on October 24 2025 saw residents and local business owners discuss the impact of smuggling operations on the safety and economic well-being of their towns. Several community members cited the need for more resources for law enforcement and better information sharing between local and state agencies.

Legal proceedings and future actions

The suspects will be arraigned on the following Monday, October 30, 2025, before Judge Luis Mendoza in the Dallas County District Court. The DPW has indicated that a preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 15, 2025, where prosecutors will present evidence of the smuggling ring and argue for a trial. Should the defendants be found guilty, the sentencing could see up to a combined total of 20 years in state prison for the four individuals, along with significant restitution for victims and forfeiture of assets seized during the investigation.

Additional context

The DPW press release is available on the DPW’s official website, providing details of the charges, a statement from the spokesperson, and the procedural steps moving forward. The CBP and ICE notices further elaborate on federal charges and cooperation between agencies.

This arrest marks a significant blow to a smuggling ring that has been exploiting the I‑35 corridor for illicit transport of migrants. With the joint efforts of Texas state law enforcement and federal agencies, authorities are actively working to dismantle the network and prevent future human smuggling operations in the region.