AUSTIN, Texas — Authorities reported the capture of six Guatemalans today in connection with human smuggling activities tied to a tragic truck accident in Mexico back in 2021 that resulted in over 50 migrant fatalities.
The incident occurred when a semitrailer, overloaded with approximately 160 migrants—many of whom were from Guatemala—crashed into a support beam of a pedestrian bridge in Tuxtla Gutierrez, the capital city of Chiapas. Officials made the arrests on the third anniversary of the catastrophic event.
According to a recently unsealed indictment in Laredo, Texas, Guatemalan law enforcement apprehended four individuals: 36-year-old Tomas Quino Canil, 31-year-old Alberto Marcario Chitic, 24-year-old Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino, and 42-year-old Josefa Quino Canil de Zavala. Additionally, a fifth suspect, Jorge Agapito Ventura, was taken into custody at his residence in Cleveland, Texas. Guatemalan authorities also indicated a sixth suspect’s arrest, although their name was not disclosed.
The accused individuals face multiple charges, including conspiracy, endangerment of life, causing severe bodily harm, and resulting in death. It remains uncertain if any of the detainees have legal representation in the U.S., as inquiries made to Justice Department officials went unanswered as of late Monday.
The indictment reveals that the group conspired to facilitate the smuggling of migrants from Guatemala through Mexico to the United States for a fee. Among the troubling claims is that the defendants provided scripts for unaccompanied children on what to say to authorities if they were intercepted. The smuggling operations utilized various transportation methods, such as walking, microbuses, cattle trucks, and tractor-trailers. Furthermore, smugglers reportedly employed Facebook Messenger to manage the distribution of identification documents necessary for migrants attempting to enter the U.S.
In a statement, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas emphasized the need for caution against human smugglers, who he described as “ruthless, callous, and dangerous,” warning potential migrants about the risks of putting their lives in the hands of such individuals.
Guatemalan Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez revealed that the suspects were linked to a criminal organization known as Los Quino and noted that U.S. authorities had requested their extradition. He also mentioned that authorities executed 15 search warrants throughout Guatemala on Monday, working in collaboration with the governments of the U.S. and Mexico.
This report has been updated to clarify the correct middle name of Oswaldo Zavala Quino, which is Manuel, not Manuael.
