BEXAR COUNTY, Texas – A Laredo man was arrested for alleged involvement in human smuggling operations involving 52 migrants, according to the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office.
Abelardo Herrera, 30, was taken into custody on Wednesday for an alleged role in three human smuggling cases dating back to June 2024, deputies said in a social media post.
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The sheriff’s office said it obtained a search warrant and 13 arrest warrants that led multiple law enforcement agencies to 16 migrants at Herrera’s Laredo residence, BCSO said.
The migrants were found in three vehicles parked in Herrera’s driveway and in a nearby shed, deputies said.
A further investigation into Herrera indicated that he was connected to a smuggling case of 12 migrants last week earlier this month.
Herrera was also found to be connected to a previous human smuggling operation in June 2024 where 24 migrants were discovered in a hidden compartment rigged on a flatbed trailer, the sheriff’s office said.
Herrera is facing 10 counts of continuous smuggling of persons, two counts of continually smuggling people under age 18 and engaging in organized crime.
Additionally, he is facing an unknown amount of federal charges for smuggling migrants
Herrera remains in Webb County custody before he will be extradited back to Bexar County, deputies said.
