The Houston Police Department arrested two people and rescued nearly a dozen individuals Wednesday in a suspected human smuggling operation out of a suburban home.
Law enforcement recovered 10 people, all of whom are said to be illegal immigrants, inside of a residence, police Lt. Larry Crowson told the Houston Chronicle. The two alleged perpetrators, who have yet to be identified, were not charged at the time of publishing.
South Gessner officers are at 9000 McAvoy. A total of ten people were rescued from a house where they were being held. Indications are this is Human Smuggling. HPD Vice and Ice are investigating. Two suspects in custody. 202 pic.twitter.com/CkLUYhRbkf
— Houston Police (@houstonpolice) June 3, 2021
At around 3:30 p.m., officers were dispatched to a convenience store after a man claimed to be held hostage by another person with a firearm. Authorities rescued the caller, arrested the suspect, and were subsequently directed to the suburban home where an additional seven men and two women were located.
HOUSTON POLICE FIND 90 PEOPLE INSIDE RESIDENCE IN POSSIBLE HUMAN SMUGGLING BUST
The second arrestee was nabbed at the residence.
The rescued individuals were assessed by medical personnel and transferred to the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after they were determined to be in good condition.
Andras Bognar, a 37-year-old neighbor, said the property was rented by multiple people over the last few years. He added that they saw very little of the residents who lived there.
“We never see anybody coming in and out of the house,” he told the Houston Chronicle.
On April 30, Houston authorities found at least 90 people packed inside a residence in another suspected human smuggling bust. Law enforcement entered the home following a kidnapping call, and responding officers were shocked when they stepped foot inside.
“It was a big surprise when we got in the house and saw what we saw,” Houston Police Department Assistant Chief Daryn Edwards said at the time, adding that neighbors had not shared any information to indicate that anything suspicious was happening.
“When they got inside the house, they realized that this is actually going to turn into a human smuggling investigation,” he said.
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The Houston Police Department did not immediately respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
