BEXAR COUNTY, Texas — Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar announced the arrest of three individuals in connection with a human smuggling operation during early morning raids on Friday. A fourth suspect remains at large.
The coordinated operation, conducted by the Organized Crime Unit and Human Exploitation Unit, targeted multiple locations across Bexar County, including the 100 block of Allenhurst Road, the 200 block of Mohawk Street, and the 24000 block of Brownleaf Drive.
Deputies reported that the suspects attempted to flee by jumping between rooftops, but three were apprehended. The arrested individuals are:
Juan Diego Balderas Velez, 31 – charged with theft of property, engaging in organized criminal activity, and evading arrest on foot.
Erick Velasquez Ovalle, 19 – charged with theft of property, engaging in organized criminal activity, and evading arrest on foot.
Edgar Gabriel Velasquez, 21 – charged with evading arrest on foot.
The fourth suspect, Pablo Aaron Velaquez Monsivais, 25, is still wanted on charges including engaging in organized criminal activity and two counts of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.
All four suspects are undocumented and reportedly connected to drug trafficking organizations. Investigators said the stolen vehicles recovered from the raids were often modified for human smuggling, with seats removed and hidden compartments added to transport multiple people. Some vehicles were “cloned,” with stolen license plates and altered paint jobs to resemble legitimate vehicles, making them harder to identify on highways.
Sheriff Salazar emphasized the danger posed by the suspects:
“They’re dangerous people… They put the whole community at risk.”
