Six Guatemalan Human Smugglers Arrested for Deadly 2021 Crash
Six individuals linked to a 2021 tragic crash in Mexico that killed more than 50 migrants have been arrested. The Department of Justice confirmed this week that the arrests are tied to a semi-truck crash that took place in Chiapas, Mexico, killing and injuring dozens of migrants, including children.
The six suspects, all part of a Guatemalan smuggling ring called “Los Quinos,” were charged in the Southern District of Texas. Four of the smugglers, Tomas Quino Canil (36), Alberto Marcario Chitic (31), Oswaldo Manuel Zavala Quino (24), and Josefa Quino Canil De Zavala (42), were arrested by Guatemalan law enforcement and handed over to U.S. authorities. The fifth smuggler, Jorge Agapito Ventura (32), was arrested in Cleveland, Texas. The identity of the sixth individual has been kept confidential.
The charges include conspiracy to bring undocumented migrants into the U.S., placing lives in danger, and causing death and injuries. The smugglers allegedly facilitated travel for migrants from Guatemala through Mexico, providing written scripts for migrant children to memorize in case of detention.
On December 9, 2021, the smugglers’ cargo trailer crashed into a pedestrian bridge near Tuxtla Gutierrez, resulting in over 50 deaths and more than 100 injuries. The truck was carrying around 200 migrants.
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a statement, declaring the arrests as a message to human smugglers, warning they will be held accountable for such deadly crimes. The six smugglers face severe charges, with penalties ranging from life imprisonment to the death penalty.