Abelardo Herrera, 30, a resident of Laredo, Texas, was arrested on January 22, 2025, following a lengthy investigation into his involvement in several human smuggling operations. The arrest, carried out by the Bexar County Sheriff's Office Human Exploitation Unit with assistance from U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP AMO), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), marks a significant breakthrough in the ongoing battle against human trafficking.
Herrera has been linked to several smuggling rings, including the illegal transportation of migrants across Texas. The investigation led authorities to a residence on Valero Court in Laredo, where Herrera was found harboring 16 smuggled migrants. The migrants were located inside three vehicles parked in Herrera’s driveway and in a nearby shed.
The operation was based on a search warrant and 13 arrest warrants, and it revealed that Herrera was connected to a previous smuggling operation. On January 14, 2025, the Bexar County Sheriff's Office Human Exploitation Unit arrested 12 migrants who were reportedly smuggled by Herrera. Additionally, Herrera was linked to another disrupted operation in June 2024, in which 24 migrants were found hidden in a compartment on a flatbed trailer.
In total, Herrera is believed to have been responsible for smuggling 52 migrants. He now faces multiple charges, including:
- 10 counts of Continuous Smuggling of Persons
- 2 counts of Continuous Smuggling of Persons Under 18
- Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity
- Federal charges for migrant smuggling
Herrera remains incarcerated in Webb County, Texas, and is awaiting extradition to Bexar County, where he will face additional charges related to his smuggling activities.
