Seven Arrested in Deadly Guatemala Smuggling Case

Guatemalan police arrested seven individuals linked to the tragic smuggling incident in 2022 that resulted in the deaths of 53 migrants from Mexico and Central America, the deadliest such event in U.S. history. The arrests followed extensive investigations and were made possible through 13 raids across three departments, targeting a smuggling ring led by alleged ringleader Rigoberto Román Miranda Orozco, whose extradition has been requested by the U.S. Interior Minister Francisco Jiménez emphasized the collaborative efforts between Guatemalan authorities and Homeland Security to combat human trafficking. The migrants were abandoned in a malfunctioning tractor-trailer, leading to asphyxiation during a three-hour journey from Laredo to San Antonio. Among the deceased were eight children, with 48 found dead at the scene and five more dying later in hospitals. The driver, Homero Zamorano Jr., awaits trial on smuggling charges, while one accomplice has pleaded guilty to related offenses.