The Texas Department of Public Safety Busts Human Smuggling Operation in Kinney County

KINNEY COUNTY, Texas – The Texas Department of Public Safety conducted a human smuggling bust Friday morning in Kinney County.

Seventeen migrants — 13 men and four women — were found inside a box truck disguised to look like a Lowe’s Home Improvement store truck.

State troopers found the migrants inside a hidden compartment in the truck that was only about three feet wide.

NEW: This morning, @TxDPS @TxDPSSouth Troopers recovered 17 illegal immigrants (13 males & 4 females) from a hidden compartment inside a cloned Lowe’s work truck in Kinney County. Troopers arrested the driver from Mississippi for human smuggling causing serious bodily injury.… pic.twitter.com/4s5bpYIMHT

— Chris Olivarez (@LtChrisOlivarez) August 30, 2024

Troopers said the migrants were covered in sweat, suffered from dehydration and leg numbness from being crammed in the tight space.

The driver of the truck, who law enforcement said was from Mississippi, was arrested. The driver has been charged with human smuggling causing serious bodily injury.