Politics
NEW: Feds Bust Massive Guatemalan Human Trafficking Ring
Federal agents arrested two Guatemalan nationals on Friday who have been accused of operating one of the largest human smuggling operations in the United States.
Prosecutors announced that four individuals in total have been accused of smuggling upwards of 20,000 Guatemalan illegal aliens into the United States since 2019. Authorities are currently working to identify additional suspects and whether the ring — which was operating out of California — has any ties to foreign drug cartels and other criminal organizations.
The indictment alleges that the transnational criminal organization smuggled around 20,000 people from Guatemala, through Mexico, and into the United States. Members of the ring are accused of holding individuals hostage, threatening violence, and being responsible for a fatal car crash in Oklahoma that resulted in seven deaths, including three minors, in 2023.
Eduardo Domingo Renoj-Matul and Cristobal Mejia-Chaj, the alleged leaders of thee organization, appeared in federal court on Friday and were ordered to be held without bail. If convicted, they could each face the death penalty.
“These smuggling organizations have no regard for human life and their conduct kills,” said acting U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California Joseph McNally. “The indictment and arrests here have dismantled one of the country’s largest and most dangerous smuggling organizations. This work saves lives, and the members of the organization will now face significant consequences.”
Two additional men were also named in the indictment, including Jose Paxtor-Oxlaj, who is already behind bars for his involvement with the Oklahoma car crash that killed seven migrants. Helmer Obispo-Hernandez, who is described as a “lieutenant” in the smuggling operation, was also named in the indictment and is currently at-large.
“Every day, similar human smuggling organizations put profits ahead of the safety in these reckless and illegal endeavors,” said Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Los Angeles Acting Special Agent in Charge John Pasciucco. “HSI Los Angeles and our partners are committed to continue identifying and dismantling these organizations, so no further lives are lost, and our borders are secure.”
According to federal court documents, Renoj-Matul, who goes by the name Turko, was allegedly the ringleader of the operation. While working with his counterparts in Guatemala, the human smugglers would charge between $18,000 and $20,000 for safe passage to the United States. Migrants who could not pay were then taken hostage and were believed to have been held at a Los Angeles area home.
In one instance, Renoj-Matul allegedly called the mother of one of the hostages and said her son would “come home in a box” if she did not pay the ransom.
