Border Patrol finds 36 people in tractor-trailer at Sarita checkpoint

A man driving a blue Kenworth semi-truck was arrested at the Border Patrol checkpoint at Sarita on Friday after agents discovered 36 people sealed inside the trailer, according to a criminal complaint.

Eusebio Cavazos III was charged with knowingly and with reckless disregard attempting to transport people illegally present in the United States.

Around 1:25 a.m. on Friday, Cavazos arrived at the checkpoint just south of Sarita and approached the primary inspection lane where one agent told another that their K-9 unit was alerting them to the trailer.

Cavazos was then directed to the secondary inspection lane where one agent removed a silver metal seal from the trailer doors and opened them, according to the complaint.

The agent noticed people sitting at the far end of the trailer and motioned to other agents to escort the people out of the trailer.

When asked, all subjects declared they were illegally present in the country.

At about 8:34 a.m., Homeland Security Investigations special agents began to interview Cavazos who told them he was contacted by an unnamed individual on where to go and pick up the truck.

“Cavazos advised agents that his girlfriend drove him to a location in Donna, Texas, where the truck tractor was waiting for him,” the complaint said.

He added that he knew there were 36 people inside and that he would be paid $1,000 per person. Cavazos further admitted to having transported 25 people a “few weeks ago” and was paid $25,000 for that job.

During the interview, it was learned that there wasn’t any attempt to legitimize the trip or the cargo.

“It was discovered that there was no logbook, hourly electronic log entries or manifest,” the complaint said.

Cavazos stated that he was to drive the people to Houston where he would meet up with other people on a street, offload his passengers and get paid, but didn’t know the exact street address.

Cavazos made his first initial appearance in Corpus Christi federal court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Jason B. Libby Monday morning.

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